Tech Productivity Issue #166 (How To Get the Most Out of Your One-to-ones)

Issue #166 (How To Get the Most Out of Your One-to-ones) 04/18/22

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I keep a running list of potential topics that I might discuss in the intro of this newsletter, and one that I had recently saved was, ironically, a 1974 document called The Unsuccessful Self-Treatment of a Case of "Writer's Block".

The document is an excellent "read" and a good reminder that sometimes the juices just aren't flowing. My running list usually bails me out so I'm able to come up with something. I think having running brainstorm lists is a must for anyone doing creative writing or research-based writing.

(And don't worry, I was just as confused initially when I clicked the above link as you might be!)

Now on to this week's hand-picked productivity links!

Tools & Apps

TextFrame — Quickly create engaging product tutorials, with video editing capabilities, and ability to export anywhere (Gitbook, Shopify, etc).

Shortwave — A Gmail UI that completely redesigns email from the ground up so you can stay calm, focused, and in control.

remote.team — A team communication tool for internal chat, for remote team workflow management, free for up to 10 users.

Meetback — A simple tool that converts feedback from meetings into actionable insights.

ToDoYogi — To-do list app that enables you to manage your tasks directly within your calendar via drag-and-drop in a single view.

Pro Writer — An open-source online writing tool that includes letter templates, case conversion, character/word count, and more.

Retool is the Fast Way to Build an Interface for any Database — Custom dashboards, admin panels, CRUD apps—build any internal tool faster in Retool. Visually design apps that interface with any database or API. Switch to code nearly anywhere to customize how your apps look and work. With Retool, you ship more apps and move your business forward—all in less time. sponsor

Articles & Resources

How To Get the Most Out of Your 1:1s — Erik Wiffin, a Director of Engineer, with his thoughts on how to handle recurring meetings with some good advice for those looking for career growth.

Psychological Safety is Critical for High-Performing Teams — Psychological safety here refers to ensuring a safe work environment that encourages team members to speak up with ideas and concerns without fear of backlash or other repercussions.

Reading on a Smartphone Affects Sigh Generation, Brain Activity, and Comprehension — The study is based on data gathered by simultaneously measuring respiration and brain activity during reading in 34 healthy individuals.

The Ultimate Deliberate Practice Guide: How To Be The Best — A lengthy and bookmark-worthy guide that covers everything you need to know to improve your performance at anything—for beginners and experts.

How To Waste Time and Overcomplicate Things — A short and somewhat humorous read with some sobering reminders on how we can stay humble in our job assignments.

Is Your Brain Foggy? Here Are Five Ways to Clear It — Studies are finding that isolation, stress, and uncertainty can cause forgetfulness and disorganization. Here are some suggestions on how to overcome these.

Find, Visualize and Apply the Hidden Gems in Your Spam Inbox — Checkmate is the first tool ever built to sort, visualize and apply the deals from your spam inbox while you shop, finding hidden gems and saving early users an average of $40 per checkout. It’s completely free! Try Checkmate today! sponsor

Suggestions?

Have a suggestion for a productivity-related tool, article, or other resource? Send me a direct message via X (@LouisLazaris) and I’ll consider including it in a future issue.

Stay productive!

Louis
techproductivity.co
@LouisLazaris

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