Crossing things off a to-do list is satisfying. Imagine that sensation now, but with a lot more vitality, shining brightly on the screen of your laptop or phone. Compared to planners with scrawls or notebooks with coffee stains, the electronic work diary is a whole new thing. You’re switching between tabs and color-coding your life rather than looking for that elusive pen. With a hint of shine, it’s effective. electronic work diary
For a year, I made an effort to write in a diary every day. I say “tried” because I managed to reach the middle of February. The electronic counterpart, however, has an odd habit of sticking around. I was constantly reminded by my notes, and I was unable to escape. It’s not as cool as it once was to covertly alter tomorrow’s itinerary while holding your phone beneath the conference table. A meeting can be rescheduled with just a few quick touches. Crazy deleting, good bye.
Supervisors don’t have to worry about these digital journals. Imagine having a dashboard that shows you who is doing what, when, and for how long. Timekeeping, according to one of my supervisors, is like “herding cats.” From those who start early to those who finish late, everyone is now tracked and documented. Confusion has decreased and clarity has increased.
Errors occur. Let’s look at audit trails. Was “client call” mistakenly marked as “annual leave” by someone? No issue. Every modification can be found by somebody, somewhere. When HR comes to speak with you, that will be helpful. Quit pointing the finger at the incorrect employee in the kitchen.
Here’s an odd advantage: patterns emerge, and sometimes they’re unexpected. Has it ever occurred to you that the majority of your staff works extremely hard before lunch but stops after 3 p.m.? When you use an electronic tracker, these small bits of information appear. Modify your plans; perhaps “death by spreadsheet” ought to occur after a strong cup of coffee every time.
Do you have privacy concerns? The majority of systems have unchangeable parameters. Who sees what and when is up to you. Your dentist appointment won’t give you any more problems at work.
Having to work on a lot of different things and meet a lot of deadlines doesn’t have to feel like spinning plates. With search features, tags, and reminders, work diaries are like having your own slightly insane secretary. It’s not even necessary to offer them tea.
Making the switch from paper may seem difficult, but it’s actually rather simple. While elderly people may gripe, younger folks are often the ones who move things along—until those gentle reminders come to the rescue. Technology is similar to democracy when everyone must agree.
There are issues with electronic work diaries. To keep you humble, they may freeze or eat a note. One ping at a time, however, they will catch anything that slips between the cracks. Who even recalls where they placed their last paper diary, let’s face it?