If you aren’t leveraging your phone to make you a more productive and an all-around better employee by now, we’re not sure what you’re waiting for. It’s 2016 and you’re carrying a personal assistant in your pocket. Of course, an iPhone or Android device fresh out of the box needs to be loaded with the right apps. Which apps are those, might you ask? Well, we’ve compiled a list of the best apps to help your work life that you can download right now. Time to hit the app store.
Ummo
It’s said that public speaking is the most common fear among Americans. If you’re one of the many who struggle with talking at meetings or giving a presentation, Ummo can help. Ummo helps you kill those filler “Umm”s and “Uhh”s so your speech is clearer and more impactful. You simply tell Ummo which words/sounds are your crutches, and Ummo helps you eliminate them. Trust us, if you’ve never stopped to think about how often you use certain words to fill dead air, you should. Then you should eradicate them with Ummo. iOS
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Duo
If you rely on video calls to do business and chat with colleagues, Duo might become your new Skype. The app, which Google launched last month, delivers the high-quality video you demand. What makes Duo unique, however, is the Knock Knock feature, which allows you to preview who’s calling and what they’re doing. It’s like caller ID for the 21st Century. On top of that, you can easily switch between WiFi and cell whenever you need. For our money, it’s the best video calling app out there. iOS Android
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Slack
Slack will be the biggest thing to happen to your office since Carol from accounting started Free Bagel Fridays. It will replace tons of emails. It will replace Hangouts. It will replace your file sharing service. Basically, Slack does a lot. Slack allows you to create channels where you can discuss specific topics, share files on those topics, and stay on the same page with your coworkers more efficiently. Even that, however, is just scratching the surface. Download it and get your coworkers on board. iOS Android
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Dropbox Paper
Let’s say you aren’t ready to bring the whole office over to Slack. Understandable. If that’s the case and you still need to work on documents as a team, consider Dropbox Paper, the new release from the file hosting giant. Dropbox Paper allows you and your colleagues to collaborate on documents, see changes easily, and share important info. iOS Android
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Microsoft Flow
If you’ve ever experienced the power of If This Then That (IFTTT), you know how it can transform the way you work. Well, IFTTT now has a challenger—Microsoft Flow. Flow allows you to automate time-consuming tasks that require multiple services. Save email attachments to Dropbox. Create Google Calendar events for things in your Todoist. Save Tweets that match a particular hashtag. How you use Flow is up to you. But once you discover how powerful it is, you’ll wonder how you could have worked without it. iOS Android
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Switch
One thing with getting back to the grind is that sometimes it reminds you you’re somewhere you don’t want to be. Maybe make this the season you start searching for other opportunities. To help, download Switch, the job searching app that can even connect you directly with hiring managers. Instead of swiping for a date, how about swiping for a job? iOS Android
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SevenDays
The truth is, many work weeks feel repetitive. Sure new challenges pop up, but a lot of your tasks are the same week in and week out. To track all of these things, we recommend SevenDays, a new app that allows you to clearly see your weekly tasks. The clean interface allows you to easily plan out your week and digest it at a glance. iOS
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Sidkix
Do any amount of traveling for your job and at some point you’ll find yourself in a far off city, looking for a good cup of coffee. Sidkix is your sidekick for such a scenario. The urban navigation app helps you find all the interesting and good stuff when you’re walking around an unfamiliar place. Find good food, nightlife, and spots for your morning java. Then get directions right in the app. It’s a business traveler’s best friend. iOS Android
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