ADM’s Top 5 Productivity Tools
When it comes to productivity, the number of tools available out there can be overwhelming. To help you navigate this sea of options, the ADM team has compiled their top 5 go-to productivity tools. Let's dive into their insights and personal experiences with these tools that keep them on track.
Calendars
The team praises Outlook Calendar for its flexibility and ability to integrate with the entire suite of Microsoft Office products. This powerful digital tool allows you to set reminders, organise meetings, and plan your appointments efficiently.
General Manager, Jonathan is a big fan of scheduling emails and shares a great tip: "When I have a project which is important, but not time critical, I have a look at my diary, and then I 'forward' myself the email with scheduled send with a date when I will better be suited to deal with it as a priority. It helps me manage tasks (because I can look into my drafts and see what is upcoming if I have some spare capacity) - but it also means I don't have to 'worry' about items in my inbox!"
However, traditional methods still have their place. There’s just something about scratching things off your calendar that’s incredibly satisfying. Mary shares, "I'm quite old school when it comes to productivity tools. I need a physical calendar, one I can write on”. Physical calendars are great for visual planning and tracking important dates all at a glance.
Diaries
Despite the digital age, many ADM team members appreciate the tangible nature of physical diaries. Jessy has perfected her system: "After many-a-years trying to use a yearly diary for plans I have finally managed to keep up to date in all my monthly to-dos and daily important tasks."
If you are a visual learner, you can benefit from weekly, monthly, or yearly planners, but for tech-savvy folks, alternatives exist. Jadon swears by the Kindle Scribe; he finds it to be useful for client calls and trade shows. The device offers a writing experience that closely mimics the familiarity of paper, providing a comfortable and intuitive way to jot down notes or annotate books.
Sticky Notes
The classic sticky note remains a productivity staple. Faizul uses this old school method to write down his to-do lists, keeping them in front of him so that he knows what tasks he has on hand. Our CEO, Kristin also backs this approach saying "I write my to-do lists on sticky notes for the day. The top 3-5 things I must complete that day." Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective one.
NetSuite
NetSuite emerges as a crucial cloud management software for ADM, with its versatility shining in managing quotes and tasks. It’s also perfect for minimising manual tasks by automatically tracking inventory. Using saved searches, the team finds this feature useful for revisiting queries and getting the information they need quickly.
AI Chatbots
With advanced AI technology, the team is increasingly integrating this type of technology into their work lives. Chris uses ChatGPT to enhance message clarity, ensuring recipients understand his intent precisely.
For deep research and reasoning, Michael recommends trying OpenAI o3-mini. If you’re looking for an AI tool that integrates with Microsoft’s apps, ADM’s Marketing Manager, Stephen finds Copilot useful for kickstarting articles or creating meta tag HTML.
The list of productivity tools can go on forever, but it usually comes down to what tool particularly motivates you. Whether you prefer digital or traditional methods, there's a tool out there that can boost your productivity in no time. We hope our list offers valuable insights that can be used in your daily routine.
