In yesterday’s Advisor, we presented the first six of BLR Legal Editor Holly Jones’ top 10 apps to improve HR productivity. Today, four more of her apps, plus an introduction to a unique HR trainer that divides training into handy 10-minute bites.
App #7. Checklists and To-Do Lists
Apps such as Wunderlist (www.wunderlist.com) and Checkmark (builtbysnowman.com) take the to-do list to the next level. You can create lists while at the comfort of your desk, then act on the items in the list and check them off on your phone when you’re away from the office. You can also share to-do lists (and the responsibilities on them) with colleagues.
Checkmark adds additional features such as location-based reminders. Perhaps you operate from multiple locations and need to remind yourself to meet with a colleague the next time you’re on site. Checkmark allows you to set a reminder based on your next physical visit to that office location. (Wunderlist: Free, available for Windows, Mac, Web, iOS, and Android. Checkmark: $4.99, available only for iOS.)
App #8. Dunno
Of course, even the best to-do list is only half the battle—you still have to find the time (and motivation) to complete the tasks on the list. What if there were an app that could actually do some of your work for you? Enter Dunno (www.wedunno.com).
Though Dunno can’t explain how the Affordable Care Act will impact your benefits plan, it can conduct research on the subject for you. All you have to do is enter a quick note when the topic is fresh in your mind—perhaps “Affordable Care Act” or “conference locations in Chicago”—and then go back to what you were doing. Dunno will search the Web in the background, delivering results from popular search engines, YouTube, Wikipedia, and other free Web resources. (Free, available for Mac and iOS.)
App #9. Free Education
For those rare moments when you do have some extra time for research and skill development, iTunesU (www.apple.com) and TED (www.ted.com) both provide access to quick nuggets of free educational and training content. Much of the content available on iTunesU comes from live lectures at top universities such as Harvard and Stanford; in most cases, you can listen along with an entire semester of course lectures. The TED app provides video content from the popular TED: Ideas Worth Spreading conference series. (Free, iTunesU available for iOS, plus content can also be accessed via iTunes on PC and Mac desktops. TED app available for iOS, Android, and Windows phones.)
Yes, you do have the budget and time to train managers and supervisors with BLR’s® 10-Minute HR Trainer. Get it Now.
App #10. Ambiance
Sometimes, the best way to increase productivity is simply decreasing distractions. Ambiance (ambianceapp.com) and Naturespace (www.naturespace.com) can help you tune out distracting background noise and conversations with their expansive sound libraries. Naturespace offers a high-quality selection of immersive, headphone-optimized audio environments, from gentle sunrises to violent thunderstorms. (Free, both apps include a wide variety of free sounds, as well as premium sounds that cost between $1 and $3 each. Ambiance is available on iOS and Android, as well as desktop computers. Naturespace app available on iOS only, though some sounds can be purchased individually from the website for play on other audio devices.)
Finding ways to save time and be more efficient—always a top priority for HR managers. What’s the hardest thing to find time for? For many departments it’s training. What, no time for training?
We’ve solved that with an easy-to-manage program that lets you train in discrete, 10-minute chunks. A program that’s easy for you to deliver and that requires little time from busy schedules.
No budget? If you’re like most companies in these tight budget days, you will like that it is reasonable in cost.
We asked our editors for a system that trains in a minimum amount of time with maximum effect, and they came back with BLR’s unique 10-Minute HR Trainer.
Train your line managers with BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer. There won’t be time for classroom boredom. Get it Now
As its name implies, this product trains managers and supervisors in critical HR skills in as little as 10 minutes for each topic. 10-Minute HR Trainer offers these features:
Trains in 50 key HR topics under all major employment laws, including manager and supervisor responsibilities, and how to legally carry out managerial actions from hiring to termination. (See a complete list of topics below.)
Uses the same teaching sequence master teachers use. Every training unit includes an overview, bullet points on key lessons, a quiz, and a handout to reinforce the lesson later.
Completely prewritten and self-contained. Each unit comes as a set of reproducible documents. Just make copies or turn them into overheads and you’re done. (Take a look at a sample lesson below.)
Updated continually. As laws change, your training needs do so as well. 10-Minute HR Trainer provides new lessons and updated information every 90 days, along with a monthly Training Forum newsletter, for as long as you are in the program.
Works fast. Each session is so focused that there’s not a second’s waste of time. Your managers are in and out almost before they can look at the clock, yet they remember small details even months later.
Evaluate It at No Cost for 30 Days
We’ve arranged to make 10-Minute HR Trainer available to our readers for a 30-day, in-office, no-cost trial. Review it at your own pace and try some lessons with your colleagues. If it’s not for you, return it at our expense. Click here and we’ll set you up with 10-Minute HR Trainer.
Download product sample
Download table of contents
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