It’s not surprising that tech professionals, especially those in leadership positions, become experts in finding and leveraging productivity boosters. No matter their industry, tech pros are faced with wide-ranging (and ever-growing) responsibilities and lengthy daily to-do lists, which means that productivity apps and tips, both large and small, aren’t just helpful assistants, but necessary everyday tools.
From leading software solutions that help them manage day-to-day projects and teamwork to their own favorite ways to start the day right and stay on track, the tech leaders of Forbes Technology Council lean on a variety of both digital and “old school” productivity aids. Below, 20 of them discuss how their favorite productivity tools and tips make a big difference in managing their day-to-day work.
1. Notion
My favorite daily productivity tool is Notion. I find it incredibly helpful because it combines note-taking, task management and project planning in one seamless platform. Its flexibility allows for customizable workflows, making it easy to organize thoughts, track progress and collaborate with others, ultimately boosting efficiency and productivity. - Achint Kumar, Hypatia-AI
2. A Pen And Notepad
I rely on a pen and paper to gather my thoughts and capture creative discussions. Much of my day is spent in virtual meetings, so when I can meet in person with my team or colleagues, I don’t want to be distracted by emails and notifications. Outlook, Teams and monday.com are great tools for communicating and organizing projects, but an old-fashioned notepad has its place for brainstorming. - Anne Kottmeier, Chemonics International
Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
MORE FOR YOU
3. Prepping For Daily Meetings
My favorite productivity boost is spending five minutes at the start of each day to go over all the meetings in my calendar. For each meeting, I write down answers to two questions: 1. What are the top three points I want to make? 2. What is the outcome I want to achieve? This simple practice has made me 10 times more effective in meetings and improved my executive presence. - Rohit Raghunathan, DoorDash
4. Linear
The Linear app truly stands out among productivity tools for building products and driving teams. Its straightforward approach helps me efficiently manage my teams and complex product roadmaps. What I value most is how it streamlines everything, enabling my team to focus on critical tasks and product milestones, regardless of our locations. - Nagendra Dhanakeerthi, AI Squared
5. Bear
Sometimes it’s the simple (but elegant) tools that make the biggest difference. I use the Bear note-taking app on all of my devices. The syncing is phenomenal, it supports markdown and it uses hashtags for organization. I can jot down a note in the middle of the night on my phone, pick it up on my desktop the next morning and edit it later on my tablet at the coffee shop. - Matt Butcher, Fermyon Technologies
6. Asana
I struggle every day with urgent tasks that distract me from important tasks. I’ve found huge value in micro task managers—they help me focus less on the operational side of the business and more on the strategic. Even there, I’ve prioritized simplicity and picked Asana. - Sam Mugel, Multiverse Computing
7. Creating Daily Checklists
As Sam Altman has written, “The days are long but the decades are short.” To avoid wasting my decades (or life), I create daily checklists, starting with the one task that will make the day feel well-spent. Everything else is a bonus. - Pavlos Moros, huntr.com
8. A Smartphone
There is no better productivity tool than today’s smartphone. With new AI agents able to learn from your interactions, this will only continue to improve. A smartphone can function as a wallet, communications device, organizer, calendar, media player and remote control, as well as offering myriad other features. Expect AI to make these functions simpler, more integrated and, ultimately, more human in their interactions. - Kevin Marcus, Versium
9. A Personal LLM
My favorite tool is my personal, offline large language model—zero privacy issues! It gives me back two to three hours and makes my day productive and organized. I use it to brainstorm, take notes, do research, summarize, organize, query, track, review, and improve and improvise daily tasks and activities. In the near future, everyone will have a personalized AI agent that knows you and can simplify tasks and save you time—it will even be able to collaborate effectively with others’ AI agents. - Sudhanshu Duggal, Procter & Gamble
10. ClickUp
My favorite daily productivity tool is ClickUp, because it offers a comprehensive suite of features, including task management, document sharing, time tracking and integrations with other tools. It enhances collaboration, streamlines workflows and provides real-time updates, making team coordination and project management highly efficient and effective. - Andrew Kucheriavy, Intechnic
11. Trello
My favorite daily productivity tool is Trello. Its visual approach to task management, with boards, lists and cards, makes organizing tasks simple and intuitive. Trello’s flexible structure helps me manage both personal and professional projects by breaking tasks into manageable pieces, setting deadlines and tracking progress, ultimately boosting my efficiency and productivity. - Roman Vinogradov, Improvado
12. Microsoft Teams Plus GenAI
I use Microsoft Teams with Copilot. Additionally, I leverage ChatGPT and other GPT tools that are built into multiple platforms to enhance my communications. - Erik Jost, Black Box
13. Apple Notes
Within the Apple ecosystem, I use Notes extensively. It is simple, shared between all Apple devices and shareable with other people. I also use it as a launchpad to transfer thoughts and research to other productivity tools as needed. - Pravir Malik, QIQuantum
14. A Pomodoro Timer
Personally, my favorite tool is my Pomodoro timer. It not only allows me to timebox tasks, but it also ensures I have focused meetings that stay on point and do not ramble on. - Dileep Marway, AND Digital
15. Azure DevOps
I like Azure DevOps for managing software projects because of its features, including version control, Agile tools, CI/CD pipelines and reporting. It streamlines collaboration, boosts productivity and ensures high-quality software delivery, and it’s integrated well within Microsoft’s ecosystem for seamless operations. - Balasubramani Murugesan, Digit7
16. Morning Pages
Inbox zero is great, but mental inbox zero is even better. My favorite tool for that is to start the day with Morning Pages, as popularized by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way. I quickly write three pages every morning without worrying about grammar or structure. This helps to get my thoughts onto paper coherently, making me feel more focused and clear. - M. Nash, Integry
17. Jira Plus Nondigital Visual Methods
I use Atlassian’s Jira to track efforts and productivity. Additionally, I use nondigital methods. I have an entire wall that’s a dry-erase calendar. In the top section, I mark deadlines with sticky notes, while the bottom area is for capturing additional details. This blend offers a visually clear approach to project management, maintaining organization, focus and efficiency. - Morgan Shuler, Tapplix Applications & Web Design
18. Forest
I enjoy the Forest app. This tool boosts productivity by gamifying focus. You plant a virtual tree that only fully grows if you stay away from other apps for a designated period. The developing tree provides a visual incentive. Plus, the app partners with an organization that plants real trees based on users’ achievements, making your efforts even more rewarding and impactful. - Alexis Vertefeuille, Sinistar
19. Slack
I love using Slack daily because it lets me connect directly with my team, partners and customers. The real human interaction helps us brainstorm solutions, build stronger relationships and plan for the future. It’s more than a tool; it’s a bridge for collaboration and creativity. - Rajat Sharma, CWS
20. The Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix helps me prioritize tasks by urgency and importance, ensuring that I focus on what truly matters. By categorizing tasks into four quadrants, it simplifies decision-making and time management, enhancing my efficiency and helping me avoid distractions. This strategic approach ensures I tackle high-priority tasks first, boosting overall productivity. - Andres Zunino, ZirconTech
