Essential Tech Tools for the Chief Executive Officer
Well the business i run is spread across multiple countries and multiple time zones. We have offices in some locations and people working from the trunk of their car in others. How do i keep in touch with what is happening?
I have 7 essential tools – messenger, skype, outlook, VAIO (10.1 inch screen), wireless lans at home and work, an XDA II Mini (& Treo) and iPod.
- Messenger is an essential part of the organisation’s culture. We encourage all employees to have a messenger account and encourage everyone to share their messenger account details with other employees. At any point in time i can see who is online, ping them a quick question and get quick decisions. We also use the messenger conferencing function to get people around the world to quickly solve a problem.
- Skype is also critical. It has cut our phone bills enormously and allows us to conference call around the world. I can have a 60 min call with the UK and at no cost. We use Skype to call customers and other contacts in other countries for next to no cost. Who would want to be a telco? www.skype.com
- Outlook – ok this is not rocket science but email is critical to our future success. What is interesting is the culture around email usage. While some in the business copy too many people, we tend to work on the approach that short and sharp emails are acceptable. We prefer candor and informality rather than long emails. I also work on the theory that if i am copied rather than the direct recipient – i can delete it – and that if it is more than a screen in length – i will not read it – and finally – if it is critical – they will call or messenge me!
- My VAIO is my life blood. It is as small as possible and has everything i need in it. Critical is wireless lan so that i can hook in everywhere. I love to pinch band width from open wireless nodes and when flying around the world, Boeing Connexions is critical.
- I have a wireless lan at my 2 homes (so i just open and surf) and also at the office. This means i am always connected and always able to get on line. (DSL is taken as a given!) I also have a wireless lan SD Mini card so i can search from my XDA II Mini.
- My XDA II Mini is critical. It gives me great email browsing, mobile phone calling globally and some games to pass the time
- Finally, iPod – why? You have to have some down time plus i subscribe to some cool podcasts. I listen to my favourite shows on the run. I actually have 2 – a nano and a video ipod. The video ipod is loaded with ripped TV shows and series to that i can relax and watch what i want on long haul flights.
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