CEOs Take On Work From Home Productivity

Amid the 21 days on going lockdown, while a lot of people have figured out ways to be productive as they continue to work from home, a lot of people are still adjusting to the system. While we are at it, we have CEOs and founders giving a few recommendations for work efficiency and great books to catch up on.

Bharath Sastry, CEO, Vistaprint India

Apps recommended working from home efficiently:

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

Books suggested to read during the lock-down:

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

Most preferred gadget:

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

Aarti Gill, CEO, and co-founder of OZiva

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently:

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

Books suggested to read during the lock-down:

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

Most preferred gadget:

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

Narayan Mahadevan, Founder of Bridgelabz

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently:

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

Books suggested to read during the lock-down:

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

Most preferred gadget:

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

Roma Priya, Founder of Burgeon Law

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently:

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

Books suggested to read during the lock-down:

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

Most preferred gadget:

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

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

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently:

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

Books suggested to read during the lock-down:

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

Most preferred gadget:

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

Sudhanshu Kejriwal, Managing Partner, EverVantage

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently:

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

Books suggested to read during the lock-down:

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

Most preferred gadget:

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

Vishal Gupta, CEO, and Co-Founder, Momspresso

Apps recommended to work from home efficiently

While working from home, it is useful to get into some kind of routine. Some apps that can help you enhance productivity and stay connected with the team include Google Calendar, Google Drive, Gmail, Whatsapp, and Zoom.  

Books suggested reading during the lock-down

Finally, now that you’re home, it’s a great opportunity to catch up on your reading. Some books that I would recommend include The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Hooked by Nir Eyal, How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen, Measure What Matters by John Doerr and Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.

Most preferred gadget

At this time, a smartphone, a good set of headphones, and a laptop are my key go-to gadgets. From managing daily tasks to unwinding with fitness or entertainment content online, these 3 gadgets help me out with everything.