Have you ever wondered about how a productivity consultant chooses an app for their needs?
Are you interested in practical productivity tips to make the app selection process a bit smoother?
Whether you’re choosing a productivity app for your smartphone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, you should give the process some serious thought.
That is, if you want to make the best use out of the app.
In this article, you’ll learn how to choose an app like a productivity consultant.
Key Takeaways
- A productivity consultant helps people improve work-life balance in both professional and personal settings
- Choosing the right productivity app requires identifying your specific problem and testing options based on your needs
- You should confidently choose an app that will provide you with the most benefit for your specific needs
Table of Contents
- What is a productivity consultant?
- Who should use a productivity consultant?
- What are the benefits of using a productivity consultant?
- How to choose an app like a productivity consultant
- FAQ: Choose an app like a productivity consultant
What is a productivity consultant?
A productivity consultant is a professional who helps people better manage their time and energy in their business, work, profession, and personal life.
Productivity consultants can help you streamline tasks, organize your calendar, set boundaries, and overcome procrastination, to name a few things.
They can also help you create efficient workflows and improve your management of projects and assignments.
Who should use a productivity consultant?
If you feel overwhelmed by tasks and responsibilities, want to create a supportive daily routine, and wish to better prioritize your work, then you may want to work with a productivity consultant.
Even if you feel like like you’re fairly productive in your business or career, you may be interested in learning how to improve your work-life balance, productivity, or time management skills.
Productivity consultants can help you improve your productivity levels in a variety of different ways.
Some people may choose to work briefly with a consultant to discuss a specific issue or concern they have about their work habits, setup, or routine.
Others may choose to use a productivity consultant on an ongoing basis.
In this case, the consultant can provide ongoing support to help an individual improve their productivity mindset, approach, and skills.
What are the benefits of using a productivity consultant?
There are many benefits to using a productivity consultant in your business or personal life.
For example, some benefits of working with a productivity consultant like myself may include:
- Peace of mind knowing your business affairs are well-organized
- Balanced work schedule that respects your time and energy
- Feeling more confident in your ability to manage your work
- Having more time and energy to spend with family and friends
- Better understanding of how your business works as a whole
- Sense of structure and control in your professional and personal lives
How to choose an app like a productivity consultant
In my work as a productivity consultant, I often find that people become overwhelmed when searching for a new app.
People tend to put a strong, if not unreasonable emphasis on choosing an app.
Undoubtedly, you do want to find the right app for your needs.
After all, choosing an app for your business or for personal use should be an exciting experience!
But what tends to happen is that people think an app is going to be a silver bullet.
They think the app will instantly solve all their productivity problems in the blink of an eye.
Unfortunately, that’s really not a helpful way of going about things when it comes to the big picture.
A much better approach is to simply view a productivity app as a tool.
When you take the time to conduct research and evaluate tools, or apps, for your situation, you set yourself up for success.
You understand that choosing the right tool will increase your chances of working more productively.
Below you’ll find several practical tips that will help you choose an app the smart way.
I use these exact steps with clients and for myself whenever I’m considering a new app for my business or in my personal life.
Let’s get you started on your app selecting adventure!
Identify the problem you wish to solve
The first thing you should do when selecting an app for your needs is to clearly identify the problem you wish to solve.
That sounds easy enough on paper, but going about it may take some thought.
Carefully think about what problem are you currently facing in your business or at home.
For example, do you struggle to find notes on your computer or tablet? Do you find it difficult to keep track of articles you want to read?
Do you need a client management system to store client information? Are you looking to manage a variety of work projects?
It’s important to be as specific as you can.
The more detailed you are, the better your chances of locating an app that will help solve your problem.
Grab a piece of paper and make a note of the main problem you wish to solve.
You should also write down the corresponding solution to your problem.
One way to go about this is to examine your observations at work over the past few weeks.
Let’s take a look at a few examples so you can better understand what I’m talking about.
Problem examples
Observation 1: I turned in my work late to the client again this week!
Problem 1: I miss deadlines for due dates of important tasks
Observation 2: Whenever a client calls, I find it difficult to locate their contact information for projects
Problem 2: I cannot locate my client leads, contact information, or follow up details
Observation 3: I write a lot in my work, but have difficulty organizing sections of text in a way that works
Problem 3: I have trouble organizing my digital work on my computer
Do you see how these problems and solutions go hand in hand with one another?
We’ve clearly identified the problem as well as the solution.
Even if this exercise seems simple, it’s important to do it anyway.
Doing so will help you better recognize what you need in an app…and improve your chances of solving your problem.
Determine your desired result from the app
You’ve got a taste of this next step thanks to the above exercise.
You’re now going to take things one step further by getting even more specific on your desired result.
Ask yourself this simple question:
If you could wave a magic wand and have your problem solved, what would your desired result be?
Ideally, your answer should be the opposite of the problem you identified in the previous exercise.
Let’s take a look at this in action further using the examples from above.
Potential problem solutions
Problem 1: I miss deadlines for due dates of important tasks
Solution 1: I meet deadlines for due dates of important tasks
Problem 2: I cannot locate my client leads, contact information, or follow up details
Solution 2: I easily locate my client information
Problem 3: I have trouble organizing my digital work on my computer
Solution 3: I easily organize my digital work on my computer
You should now have a clearer picture as to what your proposed solution looks like.
And that can be a rewarding thing in and of itself!
Consider your professional and personal preferences
The next thing you’ll need to do is to consider your professional and personal preferences when it comes to using apps.
Most people eventually find this out when they use an app for a period of time…and then stop using it.
But don’t worry, vocalizing what you did or didn’t like from your previous experiences can be extremely useful.
So what do I mean by professional and personal preferences?
Professional preference might be related to your business, industry, area of expertise, or profession. There might be some preferences or requirements that you need to meet in order to consider using an app.
For instance, if you were an accountant, you might need to securely store client information in a manner that is secure and yet easy to access for your daily work.
Personal preferences might be related to your preferred way of work. There might be certain aspects of how information is stored or laid out in an app.
For instance, if you ran a restaurant, you might want a fast and easy to use point of service system for yourself and your staff.
What to consider when evaluating an app
Here are some things you can consider whenever you’re evaluating an app:
- User interface or user experience
- In-app instructions, directions, and guides
- App tutorials, videos, and articles
- Software and operating system updates
- Use on desktop, tablet, laptop, or mobile devices
- Compatibility with other apps or programs
- Technical support or customer service
- Ability to sort, refine, or report information
- Security features or login details
- Exporting, saving, or backing up your data
While this isn’t an exhaustive list of things to consider when choosing an app, you can use these items as a starting point.
It’s also a good idea to come up with your own unique criteria and guidelines when choosing an app.
One convenient way to do this is to consider your past experiences using an app, software or program.
Any experience that comes up as a red flag or otherwise makes you uncomfortable should be carefully reviewed and considered.
Identify potential solutions
This next part is a fun part! This is where you are going to research and locate some ideas for apps.
Where can you look? There’s no end to available apps.
Internet browser search
You can do a quick internet browser search for different apps simply by typing in a keyword. Use your favorite internet browser or try different browsers or keywords for variety.
Brush up on reviews
Glance at app roundups from trustworthy media or tech websites. You can also read user reviews in online forums.
Ask for recommendations
You can ask trusted colleagues, friends, or family for recommendations on apps they like and use. Ask what they specifically like or do not like about the app in question.
Visit an app store
You can also visit your preferred digital device’s app store for ideas on top rated apps. Search for highly rated apps and be sure to read reviews.
Take a look at app websites
Another idea is to visit app websites themselves. Sometimes companies offer side-by-side comparisons of their product to that of their competitors. You can quickly get a bird’s eye view of different apps in one place.
Watch a demo
Yet another idea is to sign up for a live or recorded video tutorial or demo session of the app. This will depend on the scope and scale of the app. However, it can be helpful if you want to ask specific questions live and in person for enterprise level tools.
Evaluate potential solutions
The final step in the process is to evaluate potential solutions. This means choosing an app for your needs!
Beyond just choosing an app and running with it, you need to put in some time using it to see if it’s a good fit.
A good rule of thumb is to test out a tool for at least a few weeks. You need to be able to login and use it on a daily or every other day basis so you can input data and start to use it.
You should also try the app for a specific time limit so you can evaluate it. When you do, be honest with yourself. Was there something you liked or didn’t like? Was there a feature you absolutely loved?
Other aspects of evaluating potential solutions
If you’re on a budget, you can start with free or low-cost options.
Many apps offer limited time free use of their app, while still others offer a free version with limited features.
Choose the one that works for your needs and what you’re comfortable with.
You can also explore previously purchased tools you bought in your business or that are attached to an existing tool you currently use.
You might have a feature available to you that would suit your needs. It’s certainly worth a look.
Make your decision with confidence
You’ve finished doing your testing, evaluating, and reviewing. You’re now ready for the next step: choosing an app!
Now, when you make a decision about selecting an app, make it with confidence.
Decide that you’re going to use this app for the foreseeable future.
Make plans to use the app on a regular basis so you make the most of it.
If it helps to motivate you, you may want to schedule time in your calendar to practice using the app so you become comfortable using it.
FAQ: Choose an app like a productivity consultant
What’s a productivity consultant?
These consultants help businesses and individuals improve their efficiency and effectiveness in their daily routines. They may provide insight and guidance into processes, procedures, skills, and tools.
What type of apps are there?
Business apps capture and store of data related to production, operations, marketing, sales, finances, and more. Personal apps can be used for finances, health, administration, and other important documentation.
What to keep in mind when choosing an app?
Choose an app with relevant and desired features that will help support your current and future goals. Regularly enter and manage data for accuracy and efficiency on a regular basis.
Where can you find a productivity consultant?
Research websites, blogs, articles, talks, podcasts, webinars, books, and presentations. Make inquiries at professional, trade, association, community, or membership organizations. Ask professional contacts, friends, and acquaintances for suggestions or recommendations.
What’s the investment for a productivity consultant?
Productivity consultant fees can range anywhere from several hundreds to several thousands of dollars, depending on the service offered. Some consultants specialize only in productivity consulting, while others offer coaching as an add-on option.
In case we haven’t yet met virtually, it’s nice to meet you! Hi, I’m Rashelle Isip, The Order Expert®, productivity coach for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals.
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