CEOs take on work from home productivity: Apps, Books and Gadgets

During the lockdown, most of the employees are working from home. Previously, it was associated with outsourcing lower value tasks. But, today it has become a necessity for the organization. This massive shift brought about by technology, but what can keep you motivated. Here's what our CEO's think -

Bharath Sastry, CEO of Vistaprint India

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently

Video conferencing is invaluable in situations like the present, therefore Zoom is the most preferred app when it comes to connecting with people at work. I would recommend the same to others who are figuring out work from home.

Books suggested to read during the lock-down

I feel it is the right time to read all the books you wanted to read but couldn’t. I love to read the old classics and I am catching up on some old RK Narayan novels.

Most preferred gadget

Kindle is my most favourite as I can always carry my books with me on it wherever I am. It helps me to relax and rejuvenate when required.

Ms. Aarti Gill, CEO and co-founder of OZiva

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently

We are using quite a few productivity apps so that the team can be connected and function better. We do regular catch ups on video calls on Zoom call app with the team. Google Calendar works the best to plan and organise.

Books suggested to read during the lock-down

A few books which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and would suggest the same are the ‘Bhagavad Gita’, ‘Sapiens’ by Yuval Noah Harari and ‘Antifragile’ by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

Most preferred gadget

I am not much of a gadget or app person but I love to listen to some light music on Amazon Alexa in the background while working

Narayan Mahadevan, Founder of Bridgelabz

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently

Apart from whatsapp, it has to be G-suite. Most of your communications and operations happen through different google apps. Google hangouts, Google classrooms and Google calendars. It is convenient to use and manage.

Books suggested to read during the lock-down

I like to read a lot of business related books. My suggestion from those will have to be ‘Startup playbook’ by David S. Kidder and ‘The worst business model in the world’ by Dannie Schuman. The second book is both funny and thought provoking.

Most preferred gadget

My phone is the most preferred gadget as it is the most used for work or leisure.

Ms. Roma Priya, Founder of Burgeon Law

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently

Lately, Zoomcall has become one of the most used apps on my phone. It enables me to connect with my entire team seamlessly. I'm sure many people across the world have laid their hands on this app for the first time during the lock-down and are finding it helpful.

Books suggested to read during the lock-down

For me it has always been The Entrepreneur's Survival Guide by Mark Paul. I personally find the message of this book to be very pervasive. I would also suggest reading Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell as it is a must read book for anyone who has an entrepreneurial spirit.

Most preferred gadget

I love Airpods, it's a completely life-changing invention. Being on calls throughout the day can be quite exhausting. It gives the convenience of not having to lift your phone every single time.

Sameer A.M., Founder and CEO of Bonito Designs

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently

I like to use Slack, Evernote and Gtasks, and even my team prefers these apps while working remotely. Basically the idea is to simplify things without compromising our productivity. These apps help us to collaborate in the most seamless manner, without making people feel bothered about using their screens constantly. Infact, with synchronizing features, updating your team members becomes a lot easier.

Books suggested to read during the lock-down

For me it has to be Freedom from the Known by Jiddu Krishnamurti. Since we have a lot more time on our plate these days, I would recommend reading this and analyzing our lives based on what this book says. This is an absolutely eye opening piece that can impact us all in a positive way, and this goodness can go a long way.

Most preferred gadget

I found my salvation in the PS4 Console. It's a fun thing to have some good competitive time with your family and last but not the least, you can play games with your friends at the same time regardless of their locations.

Sudhanshu Kejriwal, Managing Partner of EverVantage

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently

I am mostly using outlook and calendar to manage my communications and work. Google calendar helps me plan and organise my work better and hangouts for virtual meetings and video calls.

Books suggested to read during the lock-down

One of my favourites is ‘Lessons in the pursuit of excellence’ by Steve Shwarzman. It’s an interesting read as the book covers the business cycles and recoveries from recessions.

Most preferred gadget

My iPhone is the most used and preferred gadget for me.

Vishal Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder, Momspresso

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently

While working from home, one must ensure that rules, norms, and routines are followed as per the usual schedule. This way, we can maximize productivity and streamline tasks as per the deadlines and goals. A few apps that would help you to keep up with schedule are Whatsapp, Google Calendar, Gmail, Zoom and Google Drive to stay connected with your teammates.

Books suggested to read during the lock-down

It's the best time to catch up with the books that you wanted to read so long, I would recommend The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Hooked by Nir Eyal, How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen, Measure What Matters by John Doerr and Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Most preferred gadget

My go to gadgets for this time are smartphones, laptops and headphones. Be it working and managing your daily tasks or just relaxing and watching a movie or your favourite series.