Feedback Should Have Your Back
In the previous blog, I wrote about the importance of process improvement. This involves constantly trying to make the processes you use at work better. Process improvement requires gathering data, or feedback. In fact, receiving (and providing) feedback is just as crucial on an individual level. You need to hear others’ impressions of your strengths and areas of growth to continuously develop your skills. In this post, I’m reviewing expert tips on how to give and receive feedback in the workplace.
6 min read
Can You Improve Your Process Improvement?
Every organization, regardless of its size or industry, relies on business processes to function. If you’re an employee, you probably know the processes you’re involved with like the back of your hand. You especially know what steps you’re involved in and what deadlines you need to meet. But do you know why those steps are important? Are you aware of the organizational goals these processes serve? And even more importantly, are you sure every process is working as efficiently as possible? In many cases, it’s not just employees who are out of the loop. Even organizational leaders often forget to engage in continuous business process improvement. In this post, I’m explaining what this is, why it matters, and how to harness its power.
6 min read
Passwords: Security Boost or Risk?
Since remote work is here to stay, so should our concern for increasing cybersecurity. Verizon's annual Data Breach Investigation Report indicates that cyberattacks are continuing to get more creative. That might make you a little nervous for your organization. Fortunately, though, there are simple steps you can take to boost security. Passwords are key (quite literally) to securing your organization against cyberattacks.
7 min read
Developing Digital Dexterity in the Workplace
As I continue to write about new and emerging trends in the workplace, remote work contextualizes each topic. For instance, it’s what’s enabling the increasing globalization of work. As more and more workplaces adapt to remote work, technologies take center stage. It’s simply not possible to work efficiently in the modern age without managing a bunch of different technologies. The key to keeping up with the tech is cultivating digital dexterity. In this blog, I’ll describe the benefits of and pathways to developing this skill set for yourself and your organization.
6 min read
Let's Get Real About Artificial Intelligence
In the past several posts, I’ve been focusing on new workplace trends emerging in 2023. I’d be remiss not to mention ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence model everyone’s talking about. This model can engage in human-sounding dialogue and answer a bunch of questions. Though it’s been fun for lots of people, it has serious uses too. In this blog, I’ll explain how you can use ChatGPT to your advantage at work.
6 min read
Step Down Your Carbon Footprint
In the past few weeks, I’ve focused on emerging trends in the new year. These include the four-day work week and increased globalization. In addition, in this post about business trends in 2023, I mentioned challenges that will arise to sustainability efforts. Economic challenges will pressure many organizations to deprioritize this important value. However, that would be a mistake. In this blog, I’ll explain the importance of reducing your organization’s carbon footprint and suggest ways to get started.
7 min read
The Future of Global Work
In the past month, I’ve focused on new workplace trends in the new year. I’ve been especially intrigued by the implications of continued flexibility at work. In my last blog, I focused on one possible outcome: the implementation of the four-day work week. Another likely effect is continued global expansion. I’ve written before about strategies for managing remote teams, but this blog is different. Here, I’m focusing specifically on the implications of hiring and working with people internationally. I’ve included some best practices for organizations and individual employees to navigate this new normal.
7 min read
The Argument for a Four-Day Work Week
In last week’s blog, I wrote about new trends we can expect to see in 2023. One of the biggest trends that’s likely to continue is increasing flexibility in the workplace. This means that workplaces are likely to continue or begin offering options like flexible hours. One way to do that is to institute a four-day work week. If this sounds like a dream of the future, think again. The revolution is already underway. To understand it, it’s important to first find out how the five-day workweek became the standard.
6 min read
Changing Trends in 2023
Welcome to 2023! With a new year comes new promise. I decided to see what trends workplace experts predict for the coming year. Sure enough, I found forecasts for exciting new changes to come, but that wasn’t all I found. Some of the trends of the past seem likely to remain, and other emerging changes may present new challenges. Read on to see if you share these hopes and fears for the upcoming year.
6 min read
The Latest Views on Conducting Interviews
To continue the mini-series I began last week, I want to focus on how organizations interview candidates. I’ve written about hiring before in a few blogs, but I think it’s worth expanding on. Interviews are a critical component of the hiring process. Improving interviews at your organization will yield several key benefits. For instance, they can help you expand the diversity of your workforce. In addition, you can practice corporate social responsibility by increasing the accessibility of your interview process. Take your interviews seriously and you’ll see big changes.
6 min read
How to Nail Your Next Interview
In last week’s blog, I wrote about the elevator pitch. Nowadays, it’s not too common to spontaneously deliver this pitch in an elevator. That’s especially true for those of us working remotely. You’ll more likely find yourself talking about your professional self in the context of an interview. “Tell me about yourself” is often the first question you’ll hear. Read on for tips and tricks to continue the interview successfully, right down to the last question.
6 min read
Tell Me About Your Elevator Pitch
Recently, I wrote a blog about pitching a project successfully. But do you know how to pitch yourself? I’m talking about the infamous elevator pitch. Nowadays, especially in the remote world, chance encounters in the elevator may be less frequent. However, answering the interview question "Tell me about yourself" is not going away anytime soon. In this blog, I’ll explain the dos and don’ts of talking about yourself as a professional.
6 min read
Leadership as a Game of Strategy
As I mentioned in last week’s blog, the economy is shifting to focus more on projects. These projects typically move organizations in a given direction. Before one sees the light of day, a project proposal has to prove its alignment with organizational strategy. So who decides what that strategy will be? Read on to find out what business strategy is and is not, as well as how you can get it right.
6 min read
Popping the Question: The Project Proposal
In a recent post, I wrote about the practice of adaptive leadership and its importance in an ever-changing world. You know what else helps you stay on top of constant change? Projects. The trouble is that project ideas come up all the time. It’s critical to know how to propose yours in a way that’s sure to get you that green light. In this blog, I’m covering all the critical elements of a project proposal.
6 min read
Presenting... Tips for Your Next Presentation
If you’re a professional in the modern workforce, you’ve certainly encountered your fair share of presentations. Whether you’re speaking to your organization’s stakeholders or representing the company at an event, presentations matter. It’s a shame that so many people lack confidence when presenting. Fortunately, there are great ways to boost your presentation skills. These ideas apply whether you’re in the boardroom or on a screen. Allow me to present them for you in this blog.
5 min read
Adapt to Adaptive Leadership
In my last post, I wrote about career transitions, including promotions. Often, those who find themselves newly in a leadership position can feel a bit lost. That’s because we don’t have a textbook for how to lead. Instead, there are various theories that can guide organizational leaders. In this post, I’ll discuss the theory of adaptive leadership. I’ll outline its key concepts, the principles behind it, and what situations warrant this approach.
7 min read
Career Change and Transition Guidance
My last two blog posts have focused on onboarding, a crucial business process. I’ve collected advice and tips for both new hires and their new workplaces. Sometimes, new employees are coming from a similar role or background. In those cases, onboarding can focus on the organization and its unique environment. Other times, however, there’s more to the transition. Career changes and promotions to new roles are both important and challenging. In this blog, I’ll share some insight into making the most of a career transition.
6 min read
On Onboarding: The Employee's Guide
In my last blog post, I compiled a mini guide to onboarding for employers. As I created it, I realized that there’s a major gap. Not all employers are going to do a great job of creating an effective onboarding experience. That will leave newbies on the job in the lurch. If that’s you, you’re in luck. This blog is a cheat sheet of sorts for the new hires who have to make their own way.
6 min read
On Onboarding: The Employer's Guide
I’ve written many blogs about how to succeed and achieve productivity at work. Whether you’re focused on setting boundaries or discovering inspiration, I’m assuming you already know the basics of your job. But what about new employees? Before you can think deeper, you need a proper introduction to a new job. In this blog, I’ll help employers and workplace leaders identify the most successful approach to onboarding. It’s a crucial part of the process of welcoming a new team member. And you shouldn’t skimp on your investment in onboarding.
6 min read
A Yes to Saying No
I’ve written a few blogs recently about utilizing to-do lists and your calendar to boost productivity. One problem we often face when it comes to maximizing these tools is saying “no.” It sounds simple, but it’s often very difficult to say “no.” That’s especially true when the person asking you to do more is your boss. In this blog, I’ll discuss why saying “no” matters, when to do it, and how to handle the conversation.
7 min read
An Inspired Approach to Inspiration
In the last few weeks, I’ve written about the importance of creativity and fun in the workplace. Of course, we all hope every day could be fun and creative. But what do you do on those days that are just meh? We all have those days, especially on Mondays. Sometimes, it doesn’t feel exciting at all to be at work. So how do you find inspiration on the tough days?
6 min read
Barking Up the Right Tree at Work
Last week, I wrote about bringing fun into the workplace. One of the suggestions I made was to celebrate holidays at the office. That doesn’t only mean holidays like Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving. What about National Take Your Dog to Work Day? As it turns out, bringing pets to the workplace is both fun and smart. After balancing the pros and cons, you may decide to look for or create a pet-friendly workplace yourself.
6 min read
Bring Fun into the Workplace
Last week, I wrote about the role of creativity in the workplace. One of the things proven to increase creativity is fun! That might not be your first association with the workplace, but maybe it should be. Employees who enjoy their work more do better, personally and professionally. Fun is a worthwhile investment for any organization. Read on to find out how you can blend playfulness and productivity at work.
6 min read
Cultivate Creativity to Unleash Success
In the past few weeks, I’ve written about to-do lists and calendars. While important, these can’t control your entire work day every day. Otherwise, work would become monotonous. Creativity is critical for keeping work interesting and successful. In this blog, I’m exploring how and why you should get creative in the workplace.
6 min read
Calendar In Some Productivity
Last week, I wrote about top tips for checking items off your to-do list. On the list of suggestions was using a calendar. I figured it’s worth discussing the calendar on its own. Time is a precious resource, and it feels good to use it more efficiently. Still, it’s hard not to procrastinate. Read on for some insights that will help you make the most of your calendar and your days.
7 min read
To-Do List Strategies that Check All the Right Boxes
Does your to-do list work for you? Or are you working for it? Most of us use some kind of list to track important tasks at work, but they’re often unsuccessful. Personally, I know the feeling all too well. I write a to-do list, check off some easy items, procrastinate important ones, and soon forget it. Rinse and repeat. If I could only get my list to motivate me, I could meet deadlines and accomplish goals more easily. Instead, as this Forbes article points out, many of us feel discouraged by our lists. It just feels like you’ll never get everything done. If you’re ready to trash that feeling and replace it with a shiny new one, read on. Here are the best tips I could find to make your task management strategy serve you, not stress you.
7 min read
Why You Want to Try Motivational Interviewing
As I’ve discussed in several recent blog posts, workplace conflicts are pretty common. Fortunately, there are many ways to resolve differences of opinion at work. For instance, mastering the art of persuasion might help you convince others to see your point of view. On the other hand, working on our empathy can help us see where others are coming from. What if you need something more? Especially for those who manage teams, it’s important to resolve any issues that arise with employees effectively. I figured I’d share what I know about Motivational Interviewing with you to help you navigate some challenging situations.
7 min read
Take an Active Role in Active Listening
Last week, I wrote about the role of empathy at work and mentioned active listening. You’ve probably heard this term used, and you may think you’re doing it. After all, we’ve often heard that active listening is just about making eye contact and saying “Mhm” every so often. In fact, though, there’s a lot more to it than that. In this blog, I’ll explain what skills this entails and why they are impactful in the workplace.
6 min read
The Role of Empathy At Work
Empathy has become somewhat of a buzzword in recent years. Interest in empathy has led to extensive research and annual reports on the subject. Leaders in the spotlight, like the CEO and President of SHRM, are focusing on empathy in publicized messages. It may come as a surprise then that researchers still cannot agree on a definition for this concept. In this blog, I’ll explore what empathy is, its effects in the workplace, and strategies to bring it into your work.
5 min read
Developing Effective Professional Development
In the past, I’ve written about new and emerging trends in the workforce. Of course, many are driven by technology. For instance, artificial intelligence and automation are transforming the finance department. At the same time, new ideas about how to maximize teamwork emerge. That’s why I wrote this blog post about Agile methodologies. Whatever field you work in, new challenges and opportunities are bound to continue popping up. The best way to be ready for them is to engage in professional development.
7 min read
Powers of Persuasion
Last week, I wrote about conflict resolution in the workplace. Conflicts usually arise from a difference of opinions, which is common and normal. Another critical skill to learn for navigating these circumstances is persuasion. Being able to persuade others to see your perspective actually has a lot to do with seeing theirs. Empathy, along with credibility and reason, are some of the key elements of a strong persuasive argument. I’ll describe how you can use each of these pieces for a persuasive argument below.
5 min read
Conflicts Dissolved and Resolved
Conflicts happen. They’re normal. But the data shows that conflicts at work aren’t being handled effectively. This results in a slew of costs to the employer and obviously harms employees’ productivity. Issues might range from a simple misunderstanding to a persistent case of bullying. Whatever the problem, it’s worthwhile to understand why it happened and resolve it efficiently. Moreover, every workplace should invest in conflict prevention. In this blog, I’ll explore this topic in greater depth.
6 min read
Make the Most of Mental Shortcuts
We all like shortcuts. Businesses and employees are always excited to learn a new way to get a task done better, faster, or smarter. But did you know that your brain takes shortcuts too? They’re called cognitive heuristics. In this blog, I’ll explain what they are and how they affect the workplace.
6 min read
Apply Agile Methodology to Deliver Success
As the pandemic continues to shift and evolve, organizations must do the same. The Agile methodology is widely hailed as a key tool to help companies become more responsive to change. However, not everyone is familiar with the principles of this methodology. Moreover, principles can be hard to translate into tangible practices. In this post, I will explain the Agile approach, its value, and the practices that achieve its ideals.
7 min read
Giving Awards Deserves an Award
As I mentioned in last week's blog about wellness, companies are working hard to retain their employees. That’s largely due to the ongoing trend dubbed the Great Resignation. In fact, this tidal wave of workers choosing to leave their jobs is predicted to continue for months at least. If you’re leading an organization, you’re probably scrambling for any way to hold on to your MVPs. Well, supporting employee wellness isn’t the only way to do it. Another way to hang on to your workforce is to give awards. In this blog, I’ll look at why awards matter based on general research and one professional’s individual lens.
7 min read
Dive Into the 8 Dimensions of Wellness
I’ve written about the importance of welcoming members of underrepresented groups into the workplace. One of the key ways to support diverse employees is through wellness. Supporting wellness in all its facets matters for all employees. That’s aligned with valuing stakeholders, by the way. In this article, I’ll describe eight components of wellness and explain why they matter for your workforce.
6 min read
Don't Leave Parental Leave Behind
Last week, I wrote about hiring underrepresented groups in the workforce. I focused on issues and strategies specific to several populations. There’s one group I didn’t include, though. That’s parents. One challenge that specifically faces new parents in the US workforce is the lack of paid parental leave policies. That includes time off for birthing mothers, their partners, and adoptive parents. In this blog, I’ll provide an overview of the problem and why it needs to be addressed.
7 min read
Hiring for a Diversity of Strengths
Last week, I wrote about the value of embracing Corporate Social Responsibility. Companies that care about their impact on people see rewards for their efforts. As mentioned, one way to move towards social responsibility is to reexamine hiring practices. Organizations serve all stakeholders, including their employees, customers, and communities, by hiring a diverse workforce. In this blog post, I’m drawing attention to key categories of candidates to consider for open roles.
7 min read
Embracing Corporate Social Responsibility
In last week's blog on sustainability, I made the case for companies to prioritize this value. I explained that minimizing impact on the environment is key to being responsive to stakeholders's values. However, as the triple bottom line implies, it’s not just the planet that people care about. As a reminder, that triple bottom line considers profits, the planet… and people. Company stakeholders care about how companies affect people, including their customers, employees, and community members. That’s why companies need to get serious about corporate social responsibility.
6 min read
Sustainability Sustains Profits
Remember in 2020, when Starbucks stopped offering plastic straws? Well, that was no isolated decision. It was part of a global trend among corporations to focus on sustainability efforts. As the values of companies’ employees and customers shift, so do corporate priorities. In this article, I’m exploring how sustainability became a popular focus for corporations and how it aligns with profitability.
6 min read
Hold On to Stakeholders
In the last few weeks, I’ve written about new directions modern organizations should consider. For instance, I’ve explained the importance of shoring up cybersecurity and the value of UX writing. Often, companies focus on these issues because of their stakeholders. Stakeholders inform the strategy, values, and direction of any organization. Engaging stakeholders is always important. However, in times of crisis, it’s essential.
6 min read
Fixing the Flaws in Workflows
A year ago, in February 2021, I published this blog post about workflows. I described strategies you can use to streamline your business processes and boost productivity. A year later, here’s an update on why revamping workflows remains relevant. Automating and digitizing workflows is key to a competitive future for your company. That’s because automated workflows address several major challenges modern companies are facing. In the rest of this post, I’ll explain why and how this works.
5 min read
Get Cybersecurity Locked Down
Cybersecurity might seem like a technical term that’s above your paygrade. In fact, you couldn’t be more wrong. Keeping an organization’s information secure is a major responsibility of every employee. And there’s a lot at stake. As this article notes, security breaches hit hard. They not only run up major financial costs, they can also destroy a company’s credibility. That means cybersecurity is not to be taken lightly. In this blog, I’ll talk about how this issue has developed and what we can do about it.
5 min read
Write User Experience Right
“UX design, research, and writing are part of a trinity.” That’s what I learned from Yehoshua Rubin, a UX writer at Google. Why does he say that? Well, “one cannot fully function without the others.” Given that these three roles are so intertwined, I had to complete my blog series on UX by diving into UX writing. Here’s the grand finale to my posts about UX design and UX research.
6 min read
Research User Experience to Boost Growth
Last week, I wrote about User Experience Design, one branch of the UX field. I discussed a bunch of heuristics that can help you design products users love. (If you need a reminder of those tips, check out this downloadable poster.) But how do you measure whether you’ve done well? That’s where UX research comes in. This critical part of any company measures users’ experience with your product or service. UX research can give great insight into what’s working and what needs work.
6 min read
Use 10 User Experience Heuristics to Your Advantage
In an earlier blog on accessibility, I touched on the concept of design. Specifically, I defined several approaches to design, such as accessible design and universal design. There’s also a concept called usable design. This kind of design focuses on user experience. Nowadays, there’s an entire field known as User Experience (UX) that employs designers, researchers, and writers, to name just a few. UX is growing, so you should know about it. Here’s an overview of the field’s history and basic principles.
5 min read
Taking Customer Service Beyond Hold Music
“This call may be recorded for quality assurance and training purposes.” I bet you’ve heard that one before. Oh, and how about this one? “All of our representatives are busy assisting other callers. Please hold, and someone will be with you shortly.” Are you hearing hold music already? As you can tell, I’m following up on my previous blog about help desk solutions today. Let’s broaden the lens and look at customer service as a whole. Customer service is an integral part of building revenue and long term success. Learning why it matters and how to improve it is key to staying competitive.
6 min read
How Help Desk Solutions Help You
I’ve written a lot about how Pyrus helps move work forward. I’ve shared ideas about how Pyrus can help to manage a remote team or delegate effectively. I’ve also highlighted some specific software solutions Pyrus offers. For instance, the Pyrus Accounts Payable Solution inspired several blogs on AP, like this one. Today, I’m turning to another major software solution you should know about. That’s the help desk.
6 min read
Searching for Jobs Successfully
In my last post, I wrote about polishing your resume. If that got your attention, you’re probably job hunting. In today’s economy, it’s not unusual for talented, driven professionals to seek new opportunities regularly. There may be any number of reasons to seek out the next step in your career. However, it’s not all smooth sailing in the job search world. If you’ve hit some bumps on your road, or ladder, to career success, check out this post.
5 min read
Get Resume Writing Right
In the last few weeks, I’ve published blogs about landing great internships and building strong internship programs. It might seem like the workforce is very different for new grads than for everyone else. However, just about everyone in a company, from the interns to the executives, has something in common. Just like you, they’ve probably spent hours agonizing over their resume. Most of us have a basic draft already. But how do you take your resume to the next level? Whether you’re actively looking for a new role or just looking to showcase your skills, read on for my tips.
5 min read
Internships Are for Organizations
Last week, I wrote a blog about the value of internships for interns. This week, I’m following up with the other side of the coin. Internships are likewise incredibly valuable for organizations. Companies, nonprofits, and even the government regularly invest in robust intern programs. They also tend to hire candidates who have internship experience, as this data shows. That means companies recognize how important internships are to developing future talent. In this blog, I’ll share some strategies for organizations to build successful, equitable, and flexible internship programs.
6 min read
Internships are for Interns
As I wrote last week, many members of the workforce are currently navigating a complex return to the office. However, it would be remiss not to mention the others just getting their foot in the door. Interns, a longtime staple of the workplace, have been uniquely challenged by the pandemic. That also means that industries aren’t able to reap the benefits of great internship programs. In this article, I’m focusing on what the up and coming professionals of our world get from internships. Next week, I’ll tackle the company’s perspective.
6 min read
Navigating Return to Office
For over a year, I’ve been writing about how to adapt to remote work and navigate the pandemic reality. Now, though, some companies are talking about a return to the office. That’s got people feeling a range of intense emotions. In this blog, I’m writing for both leaders and employees. Hopefully, their collaboration on the return to office issue can lead to fruitful conversation and successful solutions.
6 min read
A Blog on Blogs: The Why and How
In an earlier blog post, I wrote about best practices for communication in the world of remote work. One of the strategies I recommended was to write for the company blog. This is a great way for any professional to practice writing for the workplace. But what if your company doesn’t have a blog? In fact, starting a blog for your business is a good idea and an even better investment. In this meta post, I’ll explain why blogs matter for companies and how to make them effective.
5 min read
Managing Teams in the Remote Workplace
I was recently contacted by a member of the team at Time Doctor to discuss remote work. Like Pyrus, their software aims to help remote workers maximize productivity. Interestingly enough, they had just published a piece on how remote work has impacted management. That really got me thinking. Though I’ve spent quite a bit of time writing about remote work, remote management is really its own challenge to face. In this blog post, I’m going to tackle the topic head on. Here are some of the opportunities, obstacles, and skills to keep in mind if you’re managing a remote team.
5 min read
Tips for Kids: Time Management and Productivity
In most of my blogs about Pyrus, I’ve focused on the workplace. That’s where we adults tend to think about task management and automating workflows. However, we’re not the only ones for whom task and time management matters. Kids need to manage their time too! In this blog, I’ll explore why it’s important for kids to get organized and how Pyrus can support them.
4 min read
Ringing in a New Era for Smartphones at Work
In 2019, research indicated that we check our smartphones nearly 100 times daily. This was before the age of COVID-19! Just imagine how frequently you look at your phone now that many of us are operating in a remote world. In my most recent blog, I took quite a critical look at multitasking. Of course, phones are #1 culprits in encouraging us to multitask and stop focusing. That’s why my general advice was to get away from phones at work. There are some issues with that idea, though. Not only is it not feasible for most people to separate work and phones, it may not be wise. In this blog, I’ll cover some ways that phones can actually boost your productivity in the workplace.
5 min read
The Case of Multitasking Versus Productivity
Multitasking has been a hot topic lately, and most of us know we’re not really supposed to do it. But why? Turns out, trying to work on multiple tasks at once is almost always a surefire way to lower your productivity. In this blog post, I’m exploring how this works, and why we all try to multitask anyway. Plus, I’ll point out how Pyrus can help streamline your work and keep your productivity sky high.
5 min read
How to Invest in the Right Software for Your Industry
The following is a guest post written by Robyn from adimesaved.com
5 min read
Data-Driven Assessment Is Possible with Pyrus
In the previous blog about delegation, I described the importance of managers focusing on big picture strategy. One of the reasons that’s important is data. As this HBR article explains, having a smart data strategy is crucial for any modern organization. Unfortunately, many organizations and teams aren’t taking full advantage of the numbers they collect. In this article, I’ll overview why data-driven decisions matter and why Pyrus is the right tool for this challenge.
6 min read
Delegate Tasks With the Power of Pyrus
Delegation might seem like a topic only select leaders should care about. Perhaps, that was once true. However, as the MIT Sloan Management Review points out in this article, times are changing. Automation has eliminated a lot of rote tasks in the workplace, which means more employees are working creatively in teams. If most of us are involved in leadership and collaboration on a regular basis, then all of us should know how to delegate. Before we get there, though, let’s consider why this skill is so important.
6 min read
Meet Deadlines Without Hitting Dead Ends
Pyrus recently announced that users of this task management and communication platform can now sort their task list by deadline. This might seem like a simple tool, but it can make a world of difference. Knowing how to relate to your deadlines can keep you from feeling like they’ll be the death of you.
6 min read
Building Your Network in a Remote Landscape
It’s no secret that networking is crucial to modern professional life. As this CNBC article reports, up to 70-80% of job openings are filled through someone’s network, not a public posting. As the saying goes, it matters more who you know than what you know. Unfortunately, the pandemic has sent many professionals scrambling into the job market. From new grads to seasoned managers, lots of people are looking for new opportunities these days, as this article highlights.
7 min read
Pyrus Updates: related tasks access status and business process owners in forms
Forms now allow you to indicate who is responsible for a business process in general. When working with related tasks, you no longer have to guess whether you have been granted access to them. See if you have access to an associated task from your current task, instead of navigating.
2 min read
Access Accessibility in the Workplace
This past month, Pyrus shared an update about making its ecosystem more accessible. This post described how changes to the visual design of analysis reports in Pyrus will make them easier for people with colorblindness to use. That’s great news, since accessibility is an important feature for every business and organization to prioritize.
6 min read
Impostor Phenomenon & Why It's Faking You Out
In last week's post, I wrote about the importance of building confidence. This is definitely an important quality to develop for workplace success, but unfortunately, confidence can waver. We all have moments of higher and lower confidence. Some of us may even experience long spells of self-doubt. In the world of academia, that serious low in confidence and overwhelming self-doubt has come to be known as the impostor phenomenon.
7 min read
Pyrus’ accessible ecosystem: dashboards for people with colorblindness and other early Spring updates
We added a few useful features that will make our active users’ lives much easier. We optimized our analysis reports for people with colorblindness, expanded the screen space for working with tasks, and increased the capabilities of the catalogs.
2 min read
Building Confidence for Speaking Up in Virtual Meetings
I’ve written previously about the importance of nailing good etiquette in virtual meetings. However, it takes more to succeed than just polite participation. Building confidence to speak up in a virtual meeting can help you succeed and advance at work. Of course, this is easier said than done. In this video from HBR Innovation Editor Christine Liu, she details her struggle with speaking up in virtual meetings. After recognizing that she lacks confidence in her ability to contribute, she seeks out advice from a speaking coach. That coach, Justin Hale, gives some great advice to help Liu reach her goal of speaking up. Keep reading, and you’ll learn plenty more tips to build your own confidence too!
6 min read
Easy Home Office Organizing Tips to Keep Your Space Clutter-Free
Check out this blog about home office organizing by Julia Weaver featuring Pyrus! This article originally appeared on the Redfin blog and has been published here with permission.
5 min read
Virtual Communication Best Practices
In this previous blog post, I wrote about the value of streamlining communication in the workplace. That is, in fact, the purpose Pyrus was initially created to serve. However, centralizing and streamlining communication pathways isn’t enough. Regardless of the tool you use, effective communication in the workplace depends on the skills and habits of the individuals writing messages.
6 min read
How Pyrus Workflows Will Streamline Your Business Processes
I’ve written before about important topics for Accounts Payable teams to consider, including AP process automation and communication among the department members. In this blog, I’d like to look at the intersection of automation and communication: the workflow. A well-designed workflow incorporates automation wisely to facilitate effective communication, organization, and productivity in any business process. That’s why it’s essential to learn how you can upgrade your organization’s workflows.
6 min read
Pyrus Updates: a new reminder in a mobile pop-up window, a lists filter in the kanban, and a catalog of all the popular integrations
This month we’ve added a useful function for kanban boards, revamped task reminders in the Pyrus mobile app and collected all compiled the most popular integrations in an easy-to-use catalog.
2 min read
Humility: Something to Brag About
The title for this article might catch you by surprise. After all, isn’t humility about denying your greatness and not bragging about anything? As it turns out, not quite. Humility is a lot deeper and more valuable than plain old self-deprecation. This critical leadership trait involves a combination of honest introspection with the willingness to celebrate others’ strengths. That’s a recipe for success in the workplace, whether you’re a team member or company executive.
6 min read
No Joke: Humor Seriously Boosts Productivity
Have you ever thought about bringing more humor into your workplace? That may seem like a funny question, but it’s no laughing matter. Humor has been proven to bring a whole host of benefits (and some laughs) to the workplace. However, cracking a joke with coworkers also carries some level of risk. That’s why it’s important to understand the function of good humor and learn how to use it successfully at work. I’ve compiled some of the most important things to know before you start playing class clown in the office. I hope these tips will help us all make our workplaces more fun… and more productive.
6 min read
Looking back for a moment: the top 5 most useful updates from Pyrus in 2020
We are constantly developing Pyrus, adding new functions and capabilities to streamline your business processes and tasks. Over the last year we have released many updates — some of them hidden and practically unnoticeable, some long-awaited by our clients.
2 min read
A Gratitude Attitude for Productivity
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of habits and strategies for changing our habits. Last week, I focused specifically on how we can eliminate a universal bad habit: procrastination. The truth is, though, that we can’t just get rid of the bad apples. It’s important to incorporate new, positive habits as well. That’s why this week, I’m focusing on gratitude. Adding gratitude into your workday can improve your wellbeing and productivity. It’s especially important to cultivate a grateful attitude in times of crisis. Here are some key points to know on the subject.
6 min read
A new main menu, private messaging and customizable mobile chat
At the end of 2020 we released a few updates that make working with Pyrus more convenient than ever. Check out the new left menu, and enjoy the private messaging in form tasks. We also have good news for those who use the Pyrus mobile chat in their app for client support.
2 min read
Pro Tips for Procrastination
In recent weeks, I’ve written about a topic on many of our minds: our habits. As the new year begins, many of us are thinking about the habits we'd like to let go of or adopt. Fortunately, there are plenty of strategies for changing our habits. The thing is, though, that the recommendations I’ve shared may seem broad. They may feel difficult to apply to your own habits and routines. That’s why this week, I’m focusing on one in particular that most of us share: procrastination.
7 min read
Making and Breaking Habits in Brain and Behavior
It’s late December, which means many of us have started thinking about resolutions. Those new year resolutions are notorious for failing us, though. If you read last week's post about habits to learn and burn, you’re probably motivated to break that cycle. Fortunately, there are some research-backed methods to help. Breaking old habits and making new ones can be less challenging if you use the strategies I’m about to share.
6 min read
Habits to Learn, Habits to Burn
If you scan through the Pyrus blog, you’ll find I’ve written a lot about things to do and things to avoid. Do take breaks. Don’t stress yourself out. Do sleep well. Don’t succumb to Zoom fatigue. The secret to achieving these practices lies in our habits. I’ve decided to zero in on this concept and delve more into those practices we’ve ingrained. What do you do automatically, every day? Those are your habits. Fortunately, they don’t need to remain static. A closer look at our habits can help us cultivate a much healthier set of practices. And we need to do that to be our best in the workplace.
5 min read
Organizing Your Digital Workspace
Six months ago, I wrote this blog post about organizing your workspace. At the time, remote work still felt new to many of us. The traditional understanding of a workspace as a desk held steady. In the months since then, however, that view has shifted. As remote work remains the reality, our workspaces have become increasingly digital. So has our clutter. It’s time to start learning how to organize your digital workspace better.
5 min read
A new way to route client inquiries, sorting incoming tasks by deadline, and other updates
Over the last month we have been hard at work to make Pyrus even more stable and efficient. We have also created flexible catalog editing access, made it possible to sort incoming tasks by deadline, and added a new way to route tasks in forms.
2 min read
Break It Up: The How
Last week, I wrote a post about the importance of taking a break. It’s not the first time I’ve noted the importance of this practice. I’ve recommended breaks to address stress, prevent burnout, deal with Zoom fatigue, and generally plan for productivity. Breaking up the work day benefits your health and your productivity, especially during this pandemic. The trouble lies in implementing those breaks.
6 min read
Convenient, logical and compact: we’ve updated the Pyrus control panel
Pyrus is now even more convenient than before: one part of the screen is dedicated to current tasks, so that nothing interferes; the other contains the settings, and everything you need to manage your account, in a compact package. Here’s exactly what’s changed, and what the advantages of these changes are.
2 min read
Break It Up: The Why
This CNBC news article can tell you, but you probably already know. The COVID-19 shift to remote work has made work days longer. Not only are we working longer hours, we’re also experiencing fatigue from our screens. As I wrote in my post about dealing with virtual meetings, we need to make changes. There are tried and true strategies to help you work and feel better while we’re stuck at home. One of the most important strategies from this post on time management is taking breaks.
5 min read
ABCs of AP: Communication in the AP Workflow
This article by Pyrus CEO Max Nalsky details the origin story of Pyrus as a communication and workflow automation tool. This story underscores the critical need for streamlined communication in workflows. As this previous blog post suggests, filling that need is especially valuable for Accounts Payable in any company. For the conclusion of my ABCs of AP series, I’ll focus on why communication makes such a difference.
5 min read
ABCs of AP: The Budget and Accounts Payable
Last week, I introduced a new series to the blog called “ABCs of AP." This series will break down some key ideas you need to understand and optimize your business’s accounts payable process. I started with a post about the value of automation, in which I outlined some of the major challenges of the Accounts Payable process and how an automated solution like Pyrus addresses those challenges. One of the major advantages of automation involves the improved coordination between AP and budgeting. This link is critical. Not only does AP rely on information from the company budget, the company budget also depends on data from AP. Here's a breakdown of the major reasons the company budget and AP process are so intertwined.
6 min read
New Pyrus Mobile Chat capabilities, and other Autumn updates
We have a set of updates that will improve your service, and increase the efficiency and convenience of your company’s business processes.
2 min read
ABCs of AP: Automating the Accounts Payable Process
Welcome back to the Pyrus blog! This week, I’m pivoting from a focus on productivity in general to a more precise focus on a critical part of every business’s success: the accounts payable (AP) process. In fact, I’m starting a series to highlight the basic building blocks, or ABCs, of an optimized AP process. Don’t worry if you’re not entirely familiar with AP yet! I’ll give a brief rundown before getting into my first ABC topic.
6 min read
Zooming Away from Virtual Meetings
Are you exhausted by virtual meetings? So am I. So are many of us. Even CEOs are getting sick of virtual meetings. That’s because of all the ways these meetings fail to replicate natural conversational settings and strain our brains. The phenomenon colloquially termed “Zoom fatigue” has skyrocketed, and so has our search for solutions. This data from Google reveals that the frequency of the search term skyrocketed in April and remains significantly higher than it was before the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.
6 min read
Stressing Out...of the Office
A few months ago, I wrote this blog post about the pandemic of burnout sweeping workplaces in the age of COVID-19. In that article, I cited a definition of burnout as unmanaged “chronic workplace stress,” but I didn’t really touch on other kinds of stress. This week, I want to address workplace stress outside the notion of burnout, in all its forms: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
7 min read
Working for Home: The Role of Leadership
Welcome to the final blog in my series entitled “Working for Home,” a deep-dive exploration of gender inequity in the workplace and what we can do to change it. In the first blog of the series, I outlined some of the major challenges facing working women, especially during pandemic times. In the next blog, I began to focus on solutions accessible to working women and their families. Of course, real change has to involve leadership as well. That’s where this blog on best practices for leading the rise of gender equity in the workplace comes in.
8 min read
Group your Inbox in a streamlined way, edit comments in the Pyrus mobile app, and set flexible deadlines in your requests
In September we have released the updates that will help you gain momentum in the new season: they are designed to allow you to structure incoming tasks, and save you time on repetitive actions.
4 min read
Working for Home: Shifting the Load
Last week, I started writing a new series of posts entitled “Working for Home” to highlight and address the unique pressures that face women in the workplace. In my first post, I outlined several facets of women’s challenges at work, in general and during the pandemic. The forces that combine to exacerbate the crisis I described originate at home, at work, and from the current circumstances, so in this post, I’ll address solutions working women can work towards in each sphere.
6 min read
Working For Home: The Crisis
Invisible labor, emotional labor, mental load. All these terms refer to a common phenomenon experienced primarily by women in the workplace. And though the conversation around these issues has begun, there is much more visibility and change needed.
6 min read
Ready? Set Goals!
Setting goals is important. Understanding how to set goals may be more so. Numerous studies, including several cited in this lengthy article co-authored by a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, demonstrate that not all goals are set equally. Not all frameworks for setting goals lead to great results. Having read many arguments for and against some of the most common goal-setting models, I have decided to avoid recommending any one system. Instead, here is a list I’ve compiled of important considerations present across different models. Whether you’re a fan of SMART goals or FAST goals or any other kind, consider these major factors before you finalize your workplace goals.
6 min read
Molding Mindset: Flourishing by Failing
Have you heard of growth mindset? The literature on success in the workplace is littered with references to this concept. In fact, this Forbes article not only labels the growth mindset an “essential” ingredient to success but also confidently asserts that “mindset is everything.” So what is growth mindset?
6 min read
Flexible settings for access to form requests, signing documents right on your phone, and other updates
This month we have created several updates for Pyrus mobile app users, and made working with form requests and catalogs easier.
3 min read
Large Lessons from Little Learners
As the pandemic continues and many of us work from home, our families have in some ways become our coworkers. Moreover, a whole new category of coworkers has been born (sometimes, quite literally): children! While children are most likely playing the role of the annoying coworker who won’t stop interrupting your focus with their irrelevant commentary, that’s not the only way they can impact our work lives. There are actually many lessons to learn from children in our work. Here are just a few.
5 min read
On Love and Productivity
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the powerful impact of grief on productivity. That got me thinking about how other emotions might affect productivity, and the one that most intrigued me was love. As it turns out, there’s tons of research on how love impacts productivity. What I found most interesting is that the effects vary widely, depending on what kind of love we’re talking about.
5 min read
Fighting the Fires of Burnout in COVID Times
Most of us have heard the term “burnout” used before, but did you know the incidence of burnout is rising dramatically in the times of COVID-19? Whereas a CBS News article from June reported that 51% of American workers reported burnout while working from home, this article from CNBC published just a month later reported an increase in that statistic to 69%. As burnout burns through the workforce, it’s becoming increasingly important for workers and workplace leaders to learn more about this phenomenon, especially how to identify and combat it.
6 min read
Productivity Zs: The Science of Sleep
With the coronavirus pandemic at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it can be easy to overlook another epidemic plaguing the American workforce: sleep deprivation. According to The National Sleep Foundation, most Americans report being chronically sleep deprived. In addition, This Harvard study on sleep and productivity found that the average American worker loses 11.3 days' worth of productivity annually as a result of sleep deprivation. How can a mere lack of shut-eye create such drastic consequences? As it turns out, sleep plays a critical role in your wellbeing at work.
5 min read
Foods to Fuel Your Mind
I’ve written about lots of factors that can impact productivity at home, like a streamlined workspace or a well-timed schedule. One other factor to consider is diet. The foods we eat (and drinks we drink) affect productivity. Here’s an overview of some scientifically-supported guidance on how to maximize productivity through food.
5 min read
5 Steps Towards Healing the Pandemic of Grief in the Workplace
The Harvard Business Review published an article back in March that I find myself revisiting, time and time again. In this article, David Kessler, an acclaimed author, founder of www.grief.com, and “the world’s foremost expert on grief” asserts that we are all experiencing grief as a result of the current pandemic. My initial response was Grief? Really? Is that the right word? However, watching myself and those around me struggle in the last few months to find focus and flow in our work has eroded my disbelief. In fact, I have found Kessler’s insights increasingly relevant and poignant.
6 min read
Pinkies Up and Volume Down: The Etiquette of Virtual Meetings
As we settle into working from home, most of our workplace interactions are taking place virtually. I wrote before about the importance of setting up your work space at home in a way that maximizes productivity, but it’s not just the physical space that counts. Setting up your virtual workspace is just as important, especially when projects call for productivity as a team. Here are some tips for improving your virtual meetings and collaborations.
4 min read
Solitude or Collaboration? Productivity in Individuals and Groups
It may seem self-evident that a group will be more productive than an individual, as the saying “two heads are better than one” implies. However, not all groups are created equal. Despite the intuitive sense that assigning more people to a task will result in it being done faster, some groups can actually impede productive work. This is important to consider in making choices about what kind of work to tackle individually versus in groups. First, let’s understand some research on the psychology of group work.
5 min read
Pyrus in the Mac App Store, a similar tasks search, minutes in SLA, and requests from phone calls through the Pyrus API
We’re talking about Pyrus for Apple desktops, new capabilities for client’s requests proceeding, and about how our API methods help connect Pyrus to your telephony.
2 min read
Saved by the Bell: How to Increase Productivity at Home
By: Nora Yagolnitser
5 min read
Seven Strategies to Streamline Your Workplace
By: Nora Yagolnitser
6 min read
Zoom meetings in one click, stream-processing of tasks for contact centers, and Pyrus for free forever
You can now create Zoom video conferences in a Pyrus task. We have also made working with client inquiries easier, and improved the mobile app interface. And! As of June of this year, Pyrus is free for task management and communication.
2 min read
More flexibility in hiding fields, multichoice in the catalogs, and other form updates in Pyrus
This month we have a few very useful updates for those of our users who use forms. These updates will make setting up your business processes easier, and the processes themselves even more streamlined and convenient.
2 min read
Pyrus is Helping: Three Months, Free
We hope you, your family, and your team are healthy and well (and staying sane) during these trying times. As we all self-isolate to weather the worldwide COVID-19 crisis, companies large and small are moving their employees to work-from-home options, and we are all struggling to figure out a new normal. While working remotely can be a great solution for social distancing, it needs to be convenient for employees, maintain business continuity, and not subject companies to risks.
1 min read
Subscribers, all task-related actions in one report, and more relevant search function
Very soon, there will be Subscribers in your requests
3 min read
Pinning tasks in Inbox and other January updates
We have several new features to get the first few months of the new year off to a productive start.
2 min read
You can now edit comments in Pyrus!
Many have been waiting for these updates: editing comments; sorting requests in the register according to sum or deadline; and improved representation of form request groups in the Inbox.
2 min read
Optimizing garbage collection in a high load .NET service
Pyrus is used daily by several thousand organizations worldwide. The service’s responsiveness is an important competitive advantage, as it directly affects user experience. Our key performance metric is “percentage of slow queries.”
1 min read
Multiple accounts, one-swipe comments, and conditional form fields
The latest updates: hiding form fields, replying with one swipe, and switching between accounts with a single click.
2 min read
‘Pyrus is our main workflow system for forms, and for accounts payable.’ — Bryan Silverman
Bryan Silverman is the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at Virtual Data Partners, Inc., a Formed.AI company — a managed services provider that handles integrations and migrations of data, business process automation, implementing electronic forms, and accounts payable processing, among other things.
2 min read
‘We have to move toward the future.’ — Edgar Bustos
When you ask Edgar Bustos — Service Manager at Supertec Machinery, Inc. — what his company does, he answers swiftly and simply: ‘We manufacture machines.’ Founded in 1954 as a bicycle parts manufacturer, the company has maintained its motto of ‘Quality and Innovation’ as they have developed line after line of precision machinery. Based in Taiwan, with 12 locations on 4 continents, Supertec manufactures and installs machinery, and provides on-site technical and customer support and maintenance.
1 min read
An e-signature, an even smarter search, and an updated calendar
October updates: you can now sign with your finger right on your phone or tablet, search by catalog item, and monitor requests using a form in the calendar.
1 min read
Social accountability, and revolt of the machines
A few years ago, automation was seen as an absolute good: a way to increase business efficiency, and relieve people of having to do painstaking busy work. But, as technology evolves, enthusiasm is often replaced by fear, and a desire to fight for the place of humans in a world of machines.
5 min read
How we work with user requests to develop Pyrus
Pyrus is a software that allows analysts, managers, and experts in various fields to automate their business processes, without having to program. Pyrus is also a business manager that most of its users use every day. We know that means our product must be functional, reliable, flexible, and user-friendly.
4 min read
Adding companies to Pyrus; status messages; formatting text in comments
This Fall, we have released some important updates to improve the way you work with your colleagues, clients, and partners in Pyrus.
2 min read
An Announcements feed, voice comments, and a new user profile
Pyrus users have received a rich harvest in this of Autumn, as we unveil a whopping seven serious updates.
3 min read
Customer Support in Death Valley
Pyrus CEO Max Nalsky: "Like in aviation, in business it is essential to be prepared for the most unimaginable scenarios. An experience like this one helps to improve this skill."
2 min read
Communication and task management on one page. New interface
Pyrus is an efficient tool for task management and structured team communication. People create tasks, set deadlines, upload files, assign people to projects, and make decisions daily in Pyrus. They ask questions, clarify details, discuss, comment, and substantiate their opinions in a single interface without switching between apps and tabs.
1 min read
How I came up with Pyrus
In this post, CEO Max Nalsky reveals where Pyrus came from.
3 min read
New task associations, reopening requests created by messengers, and other July updates
This past month, we updated tools that have been a hit with Pyrus users for a long time.
1 min read
Using Zapier to sync with hundreds of web applications, subfolders for forms, and amoCRM integration
Pyrus has integrated with Zapier, a web service that makes two apps work together easily. You select the application for Pyrus to interact with and set terms for this interaction.
2 min read
Introducing The New Pyrus Icon
If you install updates regularly, you probably already saw a yellow pear on your phone and computer screens. This is our new Pyrus icon.
1 min read
Advanced Search, Filling Tables Automatically, And Managing Sent Invitations
Now you can enter search terms in a convenient dialog box and filter the results by the date they were updated — just like in Google.
1 min read
New tools for working with tasks and Jira integration
New Pyrus features for March: splitting tasks into steps, following tasks, planning the day, and creating Jira tickets for developers within Pyrus with a single click.
2 min read
Templates for recurring payments and other February updates
New Pyrus features for February: creating and blocking dates in the Members report, opening an attached file in a new tab, and asking for a new decision in a task.
1 min read
Using multiple Pyrus accounts on Android
We support up to 5 accounts in one app. Check out our other updates!
1 min read
How to edit a catalog without affecting the workflow
Sometimes you need to update a catalog that’s being used in a workflow. Suppose your company has opened new offices or your analyst want to change the title of a Feedback column to Comments. Let’s learn how to edit a catalog so that changes to it don’t break your workflow.
2 min read
Dashboard tweaks, register customization, and a new organization chart
Our December update covers one-click approval, joining an organization in Pyrus, searching tasks by assignee, and more.
2 min read
New approval buttons in the forms
In November, along with monthly updates our team was working to make task approval easier. The feedback from our clients who use Pyrus workflows was very helpful.
1 min read
Upgraded Form field and tasks approval
New Pyrus features for November: fill out forms, process similar tickets, view form statistics on the dashboard, route tasks by author, supervise the work of a new employee, and more.
3 min read
Using multiple Pyrus accounts on iOS and managing your tasks from Viber
This update covers our integration with Softphone.Pro, the new workflow editor, the new design for task history, and more. Let’s go!
2 min read
Don't Do These 13 Things If You Want Your Business Process Automation To Be Successful
Business process automation (BPA) is a strategy that can yield tremendous results when implemented correctly. But despite the fact that many automation software providers have made their products easy to set up, some businesses are still getting it wrong.
8 min read
How To Grow Your Small Or Medium-Sized Business With Workflow Automation Technology
As a business owner in today's competitive world, it’s crucial that you implement strategies that can help your business grow and stand out from the crowd. Otherwise, you'll be left behind.
8 min read
How To Keep Negativity Out Of Your Mind And, In Turn, The Workplace
You are your biggest critic. A positive mind can lead to a positive life, but it can be difficult keeping negative thoughts at bay. They stay there in the back of your mind, and all it takes is one little crack and they're in. These can effect your personal life, as well as your professional career.
2 min read
15 Tips For More Efficient Accounts Payable Workflow Management
Your accounts payable department is responsible for vendor invoice processing, approval, and payment. Within these functions, there are several different workflows, and to manage these workflows effectively, you need to be equipped with practical ideas. This guide contains some nuggets of wisdom to help you manage your accounts payable workflows for better performance, increased operational efficiency, and a better bottom line.
9 min read
Going Paperless: The Smart Guide to Cloud Storage
Did you know that paperwork is a major productivity killer in the workplace? Not only can it sabotage your efficiency, it's even expensive to manage. Yet studies reveal that the average American office worker uses about 10,000 sheets of paper per year. This is an alarming figure, considering the availability of advanced technology in today’s world. It seems like things are particularly designed to help businesses go paperless.
8 min read
What Is Business Process Management And How Can It Help Your Business?
There is a lot of noise in the technology world, and this noise can make things confusing. It’s especially true for the non-geeks, who would prefer to focus on their business and just take advantage of technology to move their work forward.
8 min read
3 Types Of Friends Successful People Surround Themselves With
It's safe to say that most of us have friends, and not all friendships need to be beneficial past the point of enjoying each other's company, but the people you surround yourself with can have a huge impact on your life, both personal and professional. This can be in a positive or negative way, the key is realizing early on if this person will help lift you up and make you a better person or bring you down and cause stagnation.
2 min read
Is This The Secret to Seamless Invoice Matching?
“Accounts payable invoice matching” refers to the comparison of prices, quantities, terms, and other relevant information appearing on an invoice with the information on the purchase order (PO), the goods received note (GRN), and the acceptance or inspection documents. It is usually performed for goods and services ordered through a PO, and is one of the basic steps in invoice processing, necessary for an invoice to be deemed eligible for payment.
6 min read
The 10 Best Practices In Accounts Payable Automation
In automating your accounts payable processes, which steps can you take to make sure you get the best returns on your investment? What are the most effective strategies that will help your team get the most out of the automation tool you choose? What are the best practices to follow in implementing and using it?
8 min read
A More Efficient Way to Manage Your Accounts Payable Documents
Accounts payable is particularly a document-heavy department. Whether you're dealing with vendors or upper management, there are usually tons of documents to process and approve, like vendor invoices, reports, purchase orders, and so on.
8 min read
4 Tips To Improve Your Email Etiquette
It's probably not something you often think about, you do so many of them and so often that it just becomes second nature and rattling them off becomes like breathing. We're talking about emails.
2 min read
How To Save Your Accounts Payable Team From Late Payments Once And For All
Your organization’s accounts payable (AP) operations can have considerable impact on your overall success. This means you should follow modern business practices in order to make a mark and stay ahead.
7 min read
The Shocking Truth About Manual Invoice Processing
Are you still dependent upon a manual system to process your vendor invoices? If so, not only does it mean your system is obsolete, but you're simultaneously putting yourself and your business in a disadvantaged position.
6 min read
3 Things To Consider Before Launching Your Startup
Launching your startup is an exciting time, but it is not the time to rush to launch without thoroughly prepping. Yes, you've been working day and night getting your product or brand ready for its launch, but not properly preparing your business plan and other business essentials before launch could set you behind before even starting.
2 min read
Track These 9 Accounts Payable Metrics To Optimize Your Invoice Processing
In automating your accounts payable (AP) processes, it’s essential that you track some key metrics. In this post, we’ll explain why this is important, which accounts payable metrics to track, and how to use each one to improve your invoice processing system.
7 min read
7 Common Misconceptions About Workflow Automation
There's been a lot of talk lately about the power of workflow automation and what it can do for a business. However, some companies are reluctant to embrace this phenomenon.
7 min read
10 Ways Workflow Automation Cuts Invoice Processing Costs
Have you ever wished you could cut back on your invoice processing costs without sacrificing efficiency and work quality? A study carried out in the United States showed that an average company spends as much as $25 pushing one invoice through a paper-based system. At the same time, half of all companies take between five and 15 days to process a single invoice when they do so manually.
8 min read
Top 5 Accounts Payable Processes to Automate
The main responsibility of accounts payable (AP) departments is to ensure all valid invoices from vendors are approved, processed, and paid.
7 min read
Essential Things to Consider In Choosing The Right Workflow Automation Software
In a previous post, we took you through a step-by-step process for automating your accounts payable (AP) workflows. One of the steps is to choose software that best meets your AP department's needs. Today, we'd be showing you the exact, final things to consider before making your choice of workflow automation software.
6 min read
A Step-By-Step Guide To Automating Your Accounts Payable Processes
We’ve already given you 15 reasons why you should automate your accounts payable (AP) processes. It saves time, reduces costs, leaves your employees free to do the more-pressing tasks they need to tend to, and so on.
8 min read
5 Ways Successful People Think Differently
It can be easy to get in a funk, especially if you're a business owner or entrepreneur. Sometimes, it seems like the more you push forward, the more you're pushed back. It can seem like the whole world is against you and if you aren't prepared for these lows, retreating and giving up on your dream can feel like the only option.
2 min read
Duplicate Payment? Here's How To Never Pay The Same Invoice Twice
Duplicate payment is a major financial drains facing organizations today.
7 min read
Your Workflow Automation Software Is Outdated Unless It Includes These 10 Features
So you’ve decided to go paperless, and want to give accounts payable (AP) workflow automation a try, right?
7 min read
Is One Of These 7 Accounts Payable Mistakes Holding Your Business Back?
Accounts payable invoice processing may not be the most exciting task in the world, but it remains an essential one for every organization that wants to pay its vendors.
6 min read
Tips On Networking The Right Way
Networking can be an intimidating process, especially for those of us that are on the shy side, but can be necessary in getting your name or business out to the world. While each encounter is different, there are some basic guidelines you should follow when drumming up conversation at a networking event or meetup.
2 min read
What Your Body Language Says About You In The Work Place
Whether wrong or right, body language can be a big factor in how people perceive you. In a world where less face time is had thanks to different technologies and work ideologies, body language is still as important, if not more important, when you do have those in-person meet ups.
2 min read
Team Management Tips for CFOs: How to Get Your Accounts Payable Team to Work Together More Efficiently
Getting a team to work together efficiently can prove a challenge, especially if the team’s task is no fun and no one wants to finish it.
7 min read
15 Reasons Why You Should Automate Your Accounts Payable Workflow Today
It’s time to talk about optimizing one of the least-sexy business processes out there: invoice approval.
7 min read
5 Warning Signs That You're Using An Inferior Invoice Processing System
If you make regular purchases to facilitate running your business, chances are you have some vendors you have to pay.
7 min read
5 Ways To Make Sure Your Meetings Are Productive Ones
Meetings, in theory, are great, but the harsh reality is that many meetings are unnecessary. Even the ones that don't fall under the 'unnecessary' category have the tendency to be unproductive, whether it's from being poorly planned or from employees who would rather be anywhere else. All is not lost, however, you simply need the tools and know-how to make your meetings work for you and your employees.
2 min read
Pyrus Launches a New Product to Save Executives From Email Overload
Pyrus, the team communication tool that helps to move work forward, is launching a major service revamp today. It closes the gap between group chat and task management software by providing users with a straightforward inbox-based user interface to communicate and track tasks, all within the same app. If you can send an email, you already know how to use Pyrus.
3 min read
4 Tips For Knocking Your Next Presentation Out Of The Park
For most of us, just the word "presentation" is enough to send shivers down our spines. Standing in front of a group of people, whether you know them or not, can be a stressful situation, but presentations are a necessary part of many office settings and business proposals. A successful presentation can be the difference in getting a promotion or securing a prosperous partnership and missing out completely.
2 min read
6 Habits To Break To Help Improve Your Happiness
We're all looking for it. We all strive for it. We all obtain it in different ways. I'm talking about happiness. And while there is no surefire way to reach your goal, everyone is different, there are some habits you can break to help improve your overall happiness. Not only will breaking these habits improve your personal life, but eliminating unnecessary stress and other demotivators will resonate through your professional life, as well.
3 min read
Productivity Tips That Don't Always Work
See, here's the thing about productivity, everyone gets motivated in different ways. You have to find what works for you. That doesn't mean that lists and tips aren't helpful, they can help you figure out what works for you. That being said, here are a couple tips that make the rounds that might not be as great as advertised.
2 min read
5 Tips For A Strong Business Plan
You need a business plan. Many young entrepreneurs and idea people look at a business plan in much the same way we look at outlines - nice, but more time than they're worth. That's simply not the case. Much like outlines, business plans are often an afterthought, but if well done, both will be quite welcome when you're running in circles trying to figure out what to do or where to go next.
2 min read
How To Follow Up The Right Way
If part of your job description includes sending follow up emails to clients and potential clients, then you know how much of an tight-rope act it can be. Reach out too much and you become annoying, too little and you're forgotten. Each email needs to be different, yet memorable with recurring facts and points through different conversation venues. There's so many things that can make or break your pitch that it can become overwhelming.
2 min read
How To Boost Your Employees' Productivity
It's one thing to boost your own productivity, there's plenty of tips and tricks for that, but when it comes to boosting your employees' productivity it can be a bit more tricky. Not to say that it's impossible, but many of the methods for boosting self productivity have mixed results, only because those come down the individual's desire to improve. There are things you can implement directly into the workplace to help boost your employees' productivity, however.
2 min read
4 Tips For Handling Mistakes At Work
Nobody is perfect. Whether it is in our personal or professional lives, mistakes happen. While they can cause some setbacks, what really defines a person is their ability to bounce back from them, and sometimes, turn mistakes into successes. Whether you're a member of a team, or running a SMB, how you handle mistakes will be a defining factor in how others see you. Check out some of our tips below, and when the inevitable blunder happens, you'll be better prepared!
2 min read
Four Simple Ways To Beat Procrastination
Some people are just naturally motivated, ready to take on the world and any task standing in between them and their goal, then there's the rest of us. If you find yourself procrastinating more often than not, then it's time to start making some changes. Below, we've outlined some simple things you can start doing today to help you out!
2 min read
5 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Team
When using Pyrus, or any method of task delegation, there are many factors that go into making sure your team is working optimally. Miscommunication, poor wording, and many other things might keep your team from performing at their highest level. We've compiled a couple tips to make sure you and your team are on the right track!
2 min read
4 Fears Every New Business Owner Must Overcome
Making the leap and starting your own business is no small task. Regardless of how great your idea may or may not be, more goes into a business than just the idea. It can be an overwhelming task, wrought with hurdles and unexpected issues, but you can't let that stop you from pursuing your dreams. Besides just business concerns, one key aspect of starting your business is getting over personal fears.
2 min read
4 Basics For Every Great Manager
It sometimes seems that managers have it easy, telling others what to do while sitting in their lush offices, but that is not the sign of a great manager, but rather a complacent one. A great manager is constantly involved with their team, and when not actively working with the team, they should be working on ways to improve the team, and the company, as a whole.
2 min read
The Importance Of Organized Workflow
It can take years to completely set up your workflow. Finding your stride, and what works for your team can take time, it's not an overnight process, but the payoff is well worth it. Having a well-tested, thorough workflow will improve both day-to-day and long term operations.
2 min read
4 Daily Habits That Will Increase Your Productivity Levels
Productivity levels typically fluctuate for people on a near-daily basis. A promotion, a new revenue stream, those type of things can make our productivity levels go through the roof, but once the excitement of a new job or opportunity subsides and comfort sets in it's harder to stay productive during the daily grind. It's not impossible, but you have to make a conscious effort to stay productive. We've compiled a couple tips to help you stay productive during those long work weeks!
2 min read
How Over-Communication Can Lead To Decreased Productivity
Depending on the size of your business, it might be tempting to include everyone in all company communication. The logic is that if your employees and team members are kept abreast to all happenings within the company then they will be better equipped to solve problems and come up with innovative solutions. While that might be true for a startup with just a couple members, once your business starts growing and making money, including everyone in everyday aspects of your business for all departments can actually lead to less productivity.
2 min read
How Spontaneity Can Boost Productivity
No, we're not talking about be spontaneous and playing video games for 16 hours straight and eating your body weight in McDonald's, but instead, how spontaneity can be used in the workplace to boost team member's productivity on projects and the daily grind.
2 min read
How To Set Conditional Visibility In Forms
More and more processes are being reflected in Pyrus and the system requires maximum flexibility in all activities. There are processes that involve different sets of data for different chains of transmission and functionality is needed to accomplish this.
1 min read
How Pyrus Can Help Keep You On Track In 2016
Pyrus is a great way to monitor employees, delegate tasks, and organize your contacts. The powerful tools make dividing up responsibilities easy and can help streamline assignments between you and your team. But you can also use Pyrus as a tool for yourself, as well.
1 min read
How To Find Out Who Can See Your Tasks
A few days ago, we had a person pose a curious question to us, “Can my boss secretly read my comments in all tasks, even if he is not included there?”
1 min read
How To Create And Route Tests In Pyrus
Your company’s image among its clients is built partially from the impressions you give during the communication process. If the employees deliver different information that what was expected that can lead to confusion among the team and customer base. One of the best and the most efficient ways of checking the employees’ knowledge base of the most actual information is through testing. Pyrus can help you with that; let’s see how we can create a simple test in Pyrus.
1 min read
Do You Like Clouds?
Cloud storage has replaced the usual, old offline hard and flash drives. It is wonderful to have access to your files at any moment from any place in the world where Internet is available. And there’s a great amount of cloud storage for that, free or paid.
1 min read
How To Set Up Roles In Pyrus
Let’s talk more about Pyrus functionality in the Processes settings. Sometimes you'll have multiple employees who serve the same role. We’ll see what we can do if we have several employees in the same position, a position that can be replaced with others who have the same role. There's actually a special mechanic for this, and to no one's surprise, this functionality is called ‘Roles’.
1 min read
How To Lock Workflows In Pyrus
Thanks to the flexibility of Pyrus, more and more companies are using it for everyday, routine tasks. Workflow automation is a perfect fit for creating a business process by the users themselves, without having to involve the IT Department.
1 min read
How To Enable Pop-up Notifications in Pyrus
As many of you have probably already noticed, we have a new function of Pyrus, the ability to receive notifications right in your browser. By adding this, you can be informed the moment someone gives you a task or comments on one you’re following. The notification pops up in the bottom right corner of the screen and looks like this.
2 min read
How To Track Hours Worked In Pyrus
Timekeeping is an essential method of tracking and increasing a company's efficiency. In some organizations, employees do not have set salaries and instead are paid hourly and they need to understand how much time was spent on executing the tasks at hand. These time costs are how company's decide on monetary compensation when sending an invoice to a client. Losing several hours or adding false ones leads to direct losses.
2 min read
Using Pyrus - A Real World Example
We can tell you all the reasons why you should use Pyrus to manage your team and workflow, but why don't we show you a real world example? This writer not only blogs for Pyrus, but uses Pyrus in his day-to-day life to manage and work with a consulting firm dedicated to obtaining funding for nonprofit organizations. Keep reading below to see how we use it to keep track of clients, deadlines, and recurring events!
2 min read
How To Improve Lists With Hierarchy And Grouped Elements
Lists are often found in the forms of our clients, they allow you to configure routing depending on the value of a field and serve as labels. Lists can be a blessing and a curse, however. Over time, some lists grow so that working with them becomes less and less convenient.
2 min read
How To Add Additional Email Accounts In Pyrus
Many of us have, and use, multiple email addresses. Pyrus gives you the ability to have one account and attach it to multiple email addresses! Perfect for when you need to collect and process inquiries that have been received by your multiple addresses: your personal email, your organization’s emails, support, an email for the separate project, etc.
1 min read
Lifehacks To Increase Your Happiness
Happiness is an interesting topic because so many of us define it in different ways. To some, it’s financial success, to others it is a big family, but at the end of the day most of us just “want to be happy.” We have no real way of describing what that happiness is, however. We strive for it, we let the pursuit of happiness blind us to the happiness we’re already feeling.
3 min read
Small Things You Can Do To Get More Time Out Of Your Day
There are two things we always want more of: money and time. Today we’re going to focus on the time aspect. We all want more time in our life, on our vacation, or just in a normal day. It seems we are never able to actually catch up. You’re ahead of schedule at work, then—boom—a new email pops into your inbox that requires your immediate attention. It’s a constant game of catchup.
2 min read
How To Give Tasks To Non-Pyrus Users
It's quite possible that all of your employees might not use Pyrus. That is no issue, however, because Pyrus is versatile. Even employees that are not part of Pyrus can still receive Pyrus tasks quickly and easily. Keep reading below to find out how.
1 min read
How To Backup Your Data From Pyrus
The thirst for better data and information (whether it is the acquisition of data or compiling it) continues to play a larger role in the workflow of modern companies. Pyrus is one such company. Pyrus accumulates a significant amount of useful data and important documents for users to access and share.
2 min read
7 Things People Are Judging You For Without Your Realizing It
First impressions are everything.
2 min read
Five Questions With MultiShip Product Manager Nadezhda Shirokova
This week, Pyrus CEO Max Nalsky sat down with MultiShip product manager Nadezhda Shirokova to discuss the company’s Pyrus deployment. We discussed system integration, employee response and what would be useful for MultiShip in the future.
3 min read
Signs You're About To Hire The Wrong Person
If you were to ask a handful of business owners to name one thing that they hated doing, many would probably come back with the same answer: hiring people.
2 min read
Six Steps To Better Writing
One of the best ways to convey your message is through writing—the better you can write, the easier your message is to convey. Now, you might not be out to write the next New York Times bestseller, but maybe you’re in marketing and need to start writing blog posts for your company or you need to shoot off a very important email to your boss. Whatever the case may be, it’s never a bad time to improve your writing skills. We’ve compiled some tips below to help you out next time writing is required of you, check them out!
3 min read
How To Network When You're Shy
You might be the most talented individual in your respective field, but if you have trouble networking with fellow business people and entrepreneurs you might find yourself lagging behind. Networking can help you in all forms of business: finding work, finding talent, and even finding investors. Everyone is not gifted with the social skills required for networking, however, so we’ve put together a couple tips to help those of you who might be a bit shy when it comes to mingling and networking.
3 min read
The Secrets Of Body Language
Whether you like it or not, you speak without speaking!
3 min read
How Pyrus Works With The Apple Watch
Pyrus and the Apple Watch make a great team.
2 min read
The Benefits Of Waking Up Early
The cliche is that the “early bird gets the worm,” but the early bird also gets eggs and sausage and bacon. Rising early is not easy for everyone, but there are many benefits to rising early and avoiding that snooze button until the very last minute. Keep reading below for some of the perks granted to early risers, as well as a couple of tips on how you can start waking up earlier.
3 min read
How To Get Ready For Vacation
Why is it that you somehow feel more exhausted upon returning from vacation than before you left? The whole point of going on vacation is to clear your mind and unclutter your brain, yet it never seems to work that way. In a time of what might be a never-before-seen intensity in the work environment, we've trained our brains to never turn off. We leave work, we get home, we check our work email to make sure we didn’t miss anything after we left. An unfamiliar number pops up on your iPhone at 7 pm—could it be a west coast client? You should probably answer it.
3 min read
Everything You Need To Know About Work In The Summer
“I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness.”
2 min read
How To Make Your Office A Nice Place To Be All Day
Look, if you’re going to spend a considerable amount of your day at the office, then it stands to reason that it should be a nice place. No more rows of desks and drab off-white walls surrounding you—it’s time for a change. Obviously, productivity and results come first, but who’s to say that productivity and a nice office don’t go hand in hand?
3 min read
The Benefits Of Working In A Coworking Space
If your company is of an appropriate smaller size, you might consider setting up operations in a coworking space. For those growing businesses that can no longer successfully operate in a home or coffee shop and are beginning to need more space,coworking spaces like WeWork or General Assembly offer a pleasing middle ground for you to work out of before renting dedicated commercial office space.
2 min read
How To Develop Your Willpower
As a business leader, you no doubt find yourself making hundreds of small decisions a day, if not plenty of larger ones as well. Each one of these decisions, however minor, takes a small bite out of your willpower to remain a productive person that day. Experiments show that your personal willpower is a renewable resource—it is totally possible to develop more of it, but if you run out, it’s hard to get that magic back.
3 min read
5 Quotes From Prominent Business Leaders Explained
“There are no longer any great jobs where someone tells you precisely what to do.” -Seth Godin
3 min read
Common Characteristics Of The World's Strongest Leaders, Pt. 2
We’re continuing our rundown of the personality traits that make up a good leader. Part one is here, and without further ado, here’s part two
2 min read
Common Characteristics Of The World's Strongest Leaders
Are you calm and measured like Abraham Lincoln? Are you obsessively committed like Steve Jobs?
3 min read
6 Things You're Doing To Unwittingly Stress Yourself Out
You’re not making a list of things to get done each day. Your memory is never as good as you think it is. Make it a habit to write down important tasks and ideas, and build a to-do list from them. A to-do list should be the foundation of your productive day. When you can see all the tasks you know are still yet to be done, it becomes that much easier to prioritize and reassess where you are and what’s next most important.
2 min read
How To Genuinely Engage Your Employees For Effective Leadership
The most effective leaders are the ones who relate to people in basic, sincere terms. It’s entirely too easy to get caught up in your head about whether or not you’re an effective manager. It’s much better to instead be a genuine leader who works closely with employees and makes them feel valued.
2 min read
How To Draw The Line Between Work And Personal Life Without People Thinking You're Lazy
A good working life has a lot to do with boundaries. Are you going to answer your phone after 9 PM? Are you going to cut vacation short in order to work on an upcoming project? If you have these hypothetical questions answered ahead of time, then you’re already doing a good job of defining such boundaries, but it’s also too easy
2 min read
How To Maximize Time For Planning And Brainstorming
An executive’s days can be bumpy and noisy without a moment’s pause to reflect, make plans, and contemplate solutions to problems. It’s too easy to fall into the trap of becoming a taskmaster that ends up doing the same things over and over again without ever actually advancing the ball forward. These times are essential to build into your routine in a way that best serves your needs—an undistracted slot of time for your brain to explore and put issues to rest.
2 min read
What Makes A Task Worth Delegating To Someone Else?
The leader of a company is both blessed and cursed: he has the burden of a lot of tasks to get through and decisions to make in a day, but if the company is of a certain size, he has the benefit of handing off tasks to other members of the organization. Some items will naturally flow from superior to subordinate, and it’s always excellent to see a person’s effort made more effective when it can be divided well amongst supporting staff. But where is the line between what should and shouldn’t be handed off to someone else to take care of? And how do you delegate without letting anyone else think you’re a lazy manager who can’t do things for himself?
2 min read
Is A Standing Desk Right For You?
The contemporary work zeitgeist has spoken: if you’re sitting down while working, you’re dying. If you stand, you’re more productive. Standing while working has a faddy appeal to the point that it’s no longer uncommon to see people standing throughout their workday. Behold, the standing desk is here to stay.
2 min read
People Are Living Farther Away From Work Than Ever Before And It's Killing Us
The data is in and the results are unusual: workers are living farther away from the office in a way that they never have before. This increased distance between our work life and our home life is not only inefficient, but it’s dangerous to the point of affecting our health and the economy. It’s a reflection of jobs increasingly being pushed into the suburbs, where commute times are notoriously longer due to sprawl between communities. Compare this to a densely populated city like New York, where most people get by without owning a car at all.
2 min read
How To Change Your Brain By Going On A Complaint Diet
What kind of talk do people most associate with you? Are you quick to help and encourage, or are you eager to criticize and put down?
3 min read
The Best Habits To Make Yourself More Productive
Too many people fall prey to bad habits. Maybe it’s an inability to turn off the TV, maybe they eat junk food for every meal, and so on. But there are good easy habits one can adopt that no only take very little time, but will make you into a far more productive person once they’re successfully folded into your work routine.
3 min read
What To Do When A Coworker Is In A Crisis
Real life happens all the time and work is only one component of it. We’re born, we die, and a lot of stuff happens to us in between, good and bad alike. A lot of it even happens to us while we’re at the office.
2 min read
Some Of The Most Unusual Corporate Vacation Policies And How They Work
Everyone wants a vacation, but we don't seem to be able to agree on how to let our employees take them. Corporate vacation policies can be anything from liberal and permissive to harsh and constraining. You want to be sure that your own company's policy drives a happy medium between the two. Employees should feel they can take vacation easily and when they need to, but employees also need to know the time spent away from the office is just that: time spent away from the office.
3 min read
Workplace Lessons From The Navy SEALs
Navy SEALs are commonly acknowledged as the most hard-core, devoted, relentless military personnel ever. They are physically strong, emotionally resilient, and simply never give up. Their skills have been used with great success all around the world.
2 min read
The Benefits Of Meditating In The Workplace
It’s easy to dismiss the act of meditation as a frivolous exercise for long-haired hippies and people who don’t know how to function in the real world. After all, you work in the world of business! There’s no time for such silliness as sitting still and doing nothing, concentrating on your breath without being productive.
2 min read
How And Where To Take Free Classes Online To Expand Your Skills
Did you know that you can go to MIT for free? Did you know that there are endless educational resources waiting for you to consume them online?
2 min read
The Best Apps To Protect Your Privacy Online
Making careless mistakes online can end up having real-world repercussions for your business or your personal life. It seems like malicious hackers are only increasingly intent on wreaking havoc on digital assets, so there’s an increasing amount of attention needed to be paid to how you communicate with others and go about business online.
2 min read
How To Start An Internship Program And Hire Worthwhile Interns
If you work in a field that’s interesting to young students or those who have recently graduated, you both may benefit from your offering an internship program. An internship is nothing more than knowingly taking someone into your organization who doesn’t have all the knowledge and experience to thrive. But this is the genius behind the internship — these people gain the skills to not only become a productive member of your industry, but to your specific company as well. It’s no small wonder why many people are able to turn their internships into full-time jobs.
3 min read
The Fundamental Problem With Conventional Support Systems
Last year I left a company that ran on Pyrus to join a much larger company that simply relied on email to get everything done. It was hard to get reacquainted with email in everyday work, but it only means I discovered another industry which badly needs a Pyrus-style communications product: IT support.
6 min read
How To Find And Use A Virtual Personal Assistant
If your business is going to be competitive in every respect, this means ensuring that you have the time to work on the most important tasks at any given time.
2 min read
What To Do When Your Boss Doesn't Like You
For better or worse, people are social creatures who are only able to get things done by communicating with each other. When these communication styles don’t mesh well, things can get bumpy between individuals. When those individuals work together, it can get uglier still.
2 min read
Productivity Hacks To Make You More Efficient At Work
There’s never enough time, unless you manage it carefully and keep a diligent calendar. And surely we all want some more open and free spaces on our schedules, so let’s revisit some key tactics in making short work of your work day.
3 min read
How To Sleep For Maximum Productivity
They say you need 8 hours a night, but way too many of us dip into sleep as work time. Before long, you’re scraping by on 6 hours of sleep, perhaps even less.
3 min read
The Power Of Saying No
It’s too easy to say yes to everything at the office. Whether you have your own boss to impress or your own employees to help, there’s a very real temptation to be the guy who’s available any time for anything. But this is hardly some sustainable model for how to govern a business. Knowing what is effective and appropriate to do is just as important as knowing what isn’t effective and is inappropriate when it comes to propelling your business forward.
3 min read
How To Make Friends With Your Coworkers
You don’t need to make casual friends with your coworkers and hang out with them every weekend. But it can certainly help make the work week more manageable. Rather than “dealing with coworkers,” your workday begins to feel more like “hanging out with friends,” and that’s always a better option provided that you can still be productive together.
2 min read
How To Disconnect For The Holidays
A new “device” called the NoPhone is designed to encourage people to reevaluate how they interact with their technology. It’s a single piece of plastic the same size as a smartphone. It doesn’t send or receive emails, take pictures, or do anything at all. It’s a perfect device for those looking to disconnect over the holidays. Here are some other suggestions for how to make your vacation an actual vacation in the truest sense of the word.
2 min read
The Best And Worst Christmas Gifts For A Workaholic
DO GIVE
2 min read
How To Have Fun At Work And Still Get Everything Done
This is important: the quality of your employees’ work lives directly affects the quality of the work they do. Of course no one’s focused on making his or her best effort if they’re too distracted by persistent negative thoughts about the job. As you’re in charge, it’s on you to monitor morale and respond accordingly. Here are some suggestions on how to make your workplace into the right kind of fun environment.
2 min read
Planning Thanksgiving With Pyrus
Thanksgiving can be a pain to organize. Who will buy ingredients, decide on a menu, do the cooking? Turns out that Pyrus can quickly accommodate planning even these relatively mundane tasks.
1 min read
The Best Morning Habits For Having An Awesome Workday
What if there were a way to beat that all-too-familiar 2 PM slump that most of us feel during the course of our workday? It turns out that there are a number of worthwhile strategies you can adopt to fight it back, and they mostly revolve around having a plan for your morning.
3 min read
How To Get Motivated When You're Jealous Of Other People's Success
Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. -Anonymous
2 min read
Bizarre Thoughts On Productivity From Web Summit
From sense to nonsense, talking heads were on hand at Web Summit to dish out their thoughts on how companies and employees might make the best of their time and resources to stay formidable competitors in the business landscape. Attendees were on hand to capture their observations and tweet them, of course.
2 min read
7 WTF Tweets From Web Summit
Twitter provides a beautiful live, scrolling commentary on nearly any topic you could want. Given the number of hyper-connected tech aficionados in Dublin for this year's Web Summit right now, it's no surprise that some curious observations are bubbling to the surface.
2 min read
5 Reasons You Hate Web Summit
Sure, he sang lead on 1987’s incomparable “The Joshua Tree,” but he’s also the voice on the irrelevant album that Apple somehow forced everyone to download to their iPhones earlier this year. We love solid music and Bono's various campaigns for social good, but we also kinda wish he would…do it quietly? Yet here’s the man in his Dublin hometown, commenting on the world of tech, media, and whatever else some panelist is sure to ask him about.
2 min read
The Tyranny Of Pinging
How often do you find yourself checking in with your employees to get updates on their projects? Before you do it again, you might want to reevaluate your approach.
1 min read
How To Have Fewer Meetings
Meetings can quickly become the bane of the workplace. It’s a great way to simultaneously take up time that could be spent doing real work while still feeling like you’re actually getting things done. But before you know it, you’ve lost an hour of your day and you only have more things on your to-do list.
1 min read
How A Three-Person PR Firm Used Pyrus To Cut Down On 40% Of Its Email
Ed Zitron is founder and CEO of EZ-PR.
2 min read
Are You A Bad Workplace Communicator? Here's How To Improve
Communication is the engine that gets work done — how fine-tuned is your engine?
2 min read
Pyrus Already Has The Gmail Plugin You've Been Waiting For
Your organization uses Pyrus and productivity is through the roof. Great! But the rest of the world is still using email. How do you get the two services to talk to each other?
1 min read
All The Ways The New iPhone Will Make You More Productive
As it always goes, the latest and greatest Apple device is here, and this time there are two of them. Apple’s iPhone 6 has a larger 4.7” screen and the iPhone 6 Plus a still-larger display measuring in at 5.5”. The larger screens right away mean that you can use this not-quite-a-tablet as a more heavy-duty productivity tool. It’s much more comfortable to edit a document or spreadsheet on a screen any size larger than the previous generation iPhone. These new iPhones will feel more like working on a tablet than on your cell phone.
2 min read
How To Get Responses On The Emails You Send
In a world so obsessed with connectivity, communication, tweets, chats, and accessibility, it’s especially obnoxious to have an email go unreturned for more than a day or two. Here’s how to make sure you’re doing everything as correctly as possible so that that other person knows you expect a response.
2 min read
Pyrus Solves The Problem Of Spam-Happy Coworkers
Have you ever been cc’d on an email that had nothing to do with you? I know I have, and it’s obnoxious and unhelpful. Some might perpetually cc the boss on a task as a motivator to get others to act. But the boss can’t be bothered with every little thing — he or she has bigger-picture projects to see through.
1 min read
Why You Should Only Check Email Twice A Day
It's an idea made popular by entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss — check your email twice a day, no more.
1 min read
Pyrus Is Better Than Email For Getting Work Done In Every Way
I’ve spent more time juggling email than I can fairly express, and odds are that the same is true for you too. Pyrus can drastically reduce the amount of email you need to send and receive to get your job done in a workday.
2 min read
Break the Email Habit
Why Communication Will Soon Look Very Different
2 min read
A Tool Your Sales Team Will Love
Pyrus Automates Sales Workflows (and More)
3 min read
Pyrus Integrates With Android Wear
Now Get Things Done on the Go
1 min read
Over-Tasked and Under-Organized?
3 Reasons Your Team Can't Get Things Done
1 min read
Dispatches From Hell
Eight Experts Weigh In On Their Email Inbox Agony
1 min read
The History of Email
From Groundbreaking Communication To Workplace Agony
2 min read
10,000 Unread Emails
Back in March Apple released a new update to its iOS 7.1. Among the accompanying one-page release notes it published on the occasion was the following line
1 min read