What else can your technology do? 3 ways to find out

As 2019 comes to a close, you might be considering how to be more productive and efficient in 2020. As you make big plans, consider the small things you can do that might have HUGE impact. A small change is like a pivot – it starts at a single point, but as it goes further out, the angle of impact widens.

I recently “discovered” 2 small, yet significant features in my technology that have vastly improved my productivity and my joy. One was an accidental discovery, the other the result of training.

1. The accidental discovery: I am a Gmail user. One day a few months ago, I was sending emails and noted that when I hovered over the “Send” button, an option that I had never seen before appeared: “Schedule send”. I quickly learned that I could schedule when my emails leave my SEND box. This has so far solved 2 problems:
   1. I love to work in the wee hours, a very productive time for me. But ever since a 3.00 a.m. email elicited this response – “Marguerite! Is sleep your enemy?” – I have tried not to send emails at that hour. I put them in Draft, but then I have to remember to send them at a “decent” hour. With “Schedule send” I can write my emails at any hour.
   2. 24 hours prior to each call with my coaching clients, I send them a request for a Status Update. Of course, I had to remember to send it. Now, I just schedule it when I am sending the call invitation. And then forget about it.
2. Intentional discovery: I am an Apple user. I have a bad habit of grabbing the technology and figuring it out on the go. However, I have learned the value of free Apple Training and Youtube. I had typically attended the more advanced training as I assumed I already knew the basics. However, a few months ago, I signed up for basic Macbook training. Fortunately, I was the only student so I got a full hour of one-on-one training with the Apple Genius. He introduced me to Reminders. I had seen it on my phone, ipad and Macbook but never bothered to check it out. “This will change your life” the trainer promised … and it has. I now use Reminders for EVERYTHING – work, grocery lists, travel plans. The minute something comes to mind, I just put it in Reminders. It’s an extension of my memory. So now I don’t forget things …. Well I do, but my technology reminds me.

Despite hours spent on various technologies, I suspect that most of us vastly underutilise them. It is worth devoting time over the next few weeks to explore the capabilities of the technology you use. Here are 3 ways you can do this:

1. Google “How to use your (whatever your technology is) more effectively” – I just did for “smartphone” and got 195,000,000 (that’s 195 MILLION) results!
2. Go back to basics – if you are an Apple user, go to the Apple store and attend a training, or read the manual again (or for the first time, if you are like me).
3. Ask others (co-workers, friends, family) especially those who seem to be more organised than you, to share one favourite feature of their technology, why it’s their favourite and how they use it.

Let’s help each other to use technology to our best advantage – share a favourite feature of your technology in the COMMENTS below.