Google started out just like you.
It was a small little startup with huge dreams. The thing that makes Google stand apart is just how productive it is.
Most people on the planet use an application created by the very prolific and productive Google. The magic part of this is that mostly, they do not pay Google for the use of it. So, Google gets a lot of goodwill from prospects as well as a lot of user data because they can serve a vast number of people with all their products. How does Google make its money? As of 2014, approximately 90% of their revenue came from advertising.
How can you copy that?
How can you become so productive that your startup is able to serve a great number of people and generate lots of goodwill? How can you get people to choose to put their money down and therefore increase your bottom-line?
Lisa Conquergood, the co-founder of PicMonkey, gave an interview where she listed a few of the key differences between Google and the rest of the world. Here are a few smart productivity tricks for every startup
1. Stay Clear & On Course
Have you heard of the concept of Snippets? This is where employees give a quick idea of what they accomplished the previous week and their intention for the following week. You can implement this, regardless of how big or small your business may be.The key thing to note here is that in taking the time to state what had been done and what is still outstanding, you get instant clarity about what you are up to and whether you are still on course to reach your personal or business goals.Try it and see for yourself. Get yourself a journal (if you are alone at the helm of your business) and take a few minutes to get clear on what your goals are, what you have done, and what you want to do. Are you on course?
2. Stay Up To Date
The second benefit of the Snippets is that all Googlers get access to them, which makes working in Google pretty transparent. You can easily find out how people are progressing on a project and take it over without repeating the same work. In a startup, you can make use of this to ensure you and your team members are able to stay in touch with where you each are on a particular project. Work does not have to stop while one person is off or on holiday, as it is very clear exactly where the project ended. What application can you use for this? Trello is a great option for you, as well as a plain Kanban Board (as shown here on Wikipedia). Depending on the size of your operation, it may be fine just to have a very quick meeting where everyone gives the highlights of what they have done, where they may be stuck, and their goals for a pre-determined time period. Lisa Conquergood and her colleagues do this on a daily basis. Your time period will depend on how many people you have on staff.
3. Stay In Touch No Matter Where You Are
Googlers have access to a full range of tools that enable them to stay in touch with colleagues who do not work in the same location. This, of course, avoids the need for a high level of travel, which in turn, saves time. Instead, Google Hangouts can be used to have conference calls, which mean you can see each other and read body language. This reduces the likelihood of miscommunication and distraction. With applications like Google Drive also available, you can see real time changes being made to a shared document. This can also streamline content creation, as well as keep a running log of all the changes appearing as they occur. If you have a team that works away from each other, these applications provide a way to stay in touch and keep time wasted down to a bare minimum.
As Lisa Conquergood states (here), “There is less tuning out on video calls, as you are being watched and are less likely to check your phone or have a side conversation. Reading people’s body language and expressions are an important part of communication, and video provides this hands down over a phone.”
Conclusion
Productivity is essential to keep a startup growing and increasing its service to its customers, therefore increasing its profits. Think about what can you implement starting now.
Featured photo credit: Man And Woman Having Business Meeting With Bag, Drinks And Technology via stokpic.com
