December 20, 2017
How to create better workplace clarity
*PLEASE NOTE – DropTask is now Ayoa – an all-in-one tool for idea generation and collaboration, that goes beyond traditional task management. Discover Ayoa and achieve your best work.*
To be productive we need a clear path ahead of us. Clarity breeds productivity. Without it, priorities become confused, teams fall out of sync and, as a result, progress is slow. Crystal clear communication is key when it comes to meaningful collaboration. If your team are unsure of where they are going, it will take more time and resources to get them there.
With everyone on the same page, you will feel the benefit of increased productivity and a boost in workplace engagement, resulting in better task management skills. Outline tasks, deadlines and responsibilities in your DropTask for Business project to better define roles, sharpen workflows, and reach your goals quicker.
Stay in sync
Teams need clarity if they are to work as a unit. Each team member needs to understand exactly what others need from them and what the next stages of a task are to be productive. Use Comments and Messages to update your team with changes in meeting times, alterations to tasks and anything else that could be seen as ambiguous. This way, you can prevent bottlenecks before they stall your project and ensure that everyone knows what’s expected of them on each task.
Be clear on progress
How many times have you had to chase a colleague for a progress update on a project? Every time you send an email or go over to a coworker’s desk, you’re losing time, productivity and clarity. The Progress Percentage Bar is a nifty feature that enables you to track your progress on a task in chunks of 5%, while also allowing your colleagues to see at a glance exactly how close the task is to completion. If they need further details, they can look at the corresponding Checklist for the task and see which items you have ticked off. This transparency saves you from having to constantly update or chase your colleagues about project progression, so you can work more efficiently as a team.
Know your priorities
When you have lots of tasks on your plate, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and not know where to begin. By using the Urgency and Importance icons, you are able to see which tasks you should focus on each day. If a task is marked as important and urgent, make these the first things you work on. Your workmates will also be able to see what your priorities are for the day. If they see you have lots of urgent and important tasks to do, they will know to give you time to focus on them.
Stay on track
It’s easy to get thrown off course in bustling workplaces full of confusion and distractions. If your boss asks you to complete a task, the specifics of when to start it and when it’s due can be unclear. However, if your boss sets a Start and Due Date for your tasks, everything becomes crystal clear. Daily Summary Emails cleverly use these dates to tell you what tasks you need to work on that day, plus which ones are due for today and tomorrow. You can also set your own Start and Due Dates to keep those around you informed of when you’re planning to begin and complete your tasks.
Work seamlessly together
To work well together, a team must be able to share their workload and know the responsibilities of each individual. By Assigning Tasks to people, you create clarity by letting them know exactly what their role is within the team. Also, make a clear weekly plan for your projects, taking into account the workloads of your colleagues using the Team Calendar, a handy feature which shows everyone’s Assigned Tasks and deadlines and provides everyone with a clear work schedule.
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