We invite artists, filmmakers, musicians, designers – anyone with a creative spirit – to experience cloud storage that transcends conventional expectations and unleashes creative freedom.

Content creators, get these incredible superpowers with Sync:

• Unlimited Storage: Remove creative barriers instantly.
• Ease of Use: Use the apps you know and love.
• Global Collaboration: Enable seamless sharing between people, organizations, and time zones.
• Unparalleled Privacy: Keep your ideas private and protected.
• Unbeatable Price: The most competitively priced unlimited storage solution in the market.

Challenge the status quo with unlimited cloud storage that connects your internal teams, external partners, clients, customers, files, and devices together seamlessly, so everyone is always up-to-date and on the same page. Never worry about running out of storage space again.

Do great things through exploration, innovation, and collaboration without limits.

Sync Different.

Join us at the #SXSW Creative Industries Expo March 10-13!

The post Unleash Creativity: Sync Different at SXSW first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.

Growth

To get started, over 2.5 million people are now getting their best work done with Sync. Billions of files securely stored and millions of files shared daily really does reflect our mission: to provide a safe space for the world to collaborate. And speaking of growth, our own team continues to scale up in a big way.

Want to help get the world in Sync? We’re hiring!

Celebrating 10 years of Sync.com

The summer of 2023 marked the 10th birthday of the Sync.com brand. Sync started in 2011 with the goal of creating a private cloud storage space—something unheard of at the time. Co-founders Thomas Savundra, Suhan Shan, and Darius Antia then built our company with the free and Pro versions of the Sync we know and love today, launching in 2013 under the name Sync.com. Thanks to all of you in Sync. And here’s to another 10 years of building a better cloud.

Customers in Sync

2023 was a year of awe-inspiring people making a difference with Sync.

We were delighted to speak with visionaries like Shawn Kanungo inspiring change through disruption. It’s been amazing to watch content creators like Mueo and Fujiabra Films evoke neuro-aesthetic responses with Sync. Learning how Louis Rossi from BMS Karate helps students improve their body, mind, and spirit was inspiring. And knowing that organizations like Litowitch Law and Solasta Psychological Services keep their client data safe and secure with Sync helps us sleep easier at night.

Read every 2023 Sync customer story here, and if you’d like to be featured, let us know.

New Admin features on Pro Teams+ Unlimited

Our vision for Sync has always been to provide a truly collaborative workspace. But work was needed to enable company-wide document collaboration for larger organizations. And so, 2023 was the year we put the plus in Pro Teams, delivering the very best in scalability, compliance, and control. Team leaders, IT administrators, and enterprise rejoice!

Highlights include:

• Scalable user provisioning with automatic CSV upload of thousands of users, account consolidation, and a real-time user dashboard.
• More visibility, oversight, and control with role-based access controls (Sync RBAC). Restrict features at a user or group level, create multiple admins, and enforce company-wide 2FA.
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance with SOC, GDPR, and HIPAA compliance built-in.
• Unbeatable price: $15 per user, including unlimited storage. Reduce your cloud storage TCO and realize critical IT cost savings simply by switching to Sync.

Read all about Pro Teams+ here.

Starred files

If there’s one thing we can tell you: there is no shortage of files. In fact, each Sync Pro user has, on average, 100,000+ files securely stored in the cloud. Which begs the question, with so many files, how do you keep everything perfectly organized? Staying on top of it all can be a challenge, and that’s why we were thrilled to give our new Starred files feature a starring role in 2023.

Starred files is a brand new way to manage your files, giving you instant access to everything you need, whenever you need it.

Save time by starring your files today.

New desktop app

Launched in May, our 2.2.x series desktop app is stronger, better, and faster. Files upload faster, large file-sets sync with less overhead, and CPU and memory usage has been reduced.

With such a significant update we also moved to a rapid release schedule, getting bugs reported by you fixed faster. Looking back, with so much feedback, and so many improvements throughout the year, we can confidently say version 2.2.29 (the latest version as of this writing) is the best Sync desktop app ever. Thanks to all of you who provided feedback, and by all means, keep the feedback coming.

Get the ultimate desktop syncing experience and give your CPU a break by updating now.

CloudFiles 5.x Windows beta

2023 ushered in significant updates to our CloudFiles app, as we continue to work towards removing the beta label with fully native file provider support for both Windows and macOS.

Highlights include:

• Download-on-demand. No more setting-local to manually open a file and no more errors when opening a cloud-only file directly on your computer.
• Streamlined installation. No need for a reboot to get things working.
• All of the 2.2.x series desktop app performance improvements have been merged into 5.x.
• Many bug fixes as reported by you.

CloudFiles 5.x beta is available for Windows right now. Expect a Mac version coming soon in 2024.

The need for speed

Your feedback is what drives us to make Sync the best it can be. And in 2023 your most requested feature was faster speeds. We couldn’t agree more. So we set out to identify and eliminate bottlenecks to make Sync go from fast to blazing fast. This became an epic project that will continue into 2024.

Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far:

• Desktop app upload speed improved courtesy of our new 2.2.x series app. Up to 3x faster!
• Web panel download speed is much faster.
• Web panel upload speed is significantly faster, with a 2x reduction in overhead, when uploading a 500MB+ file.
• Web panel user interface feels faster and more responsive.

The need for platform stability

2023 wasn’t without its challenges. We welcomed with open arms a massive influx of ex-Dropbox customers looking for unlimited storage after Dropbox limited their storage offerings and raised prices. Initially, this put a heavy load on our systems. We responded by increasing storage capacity in a big way, with over 230 petabytes now online. Sync Pro Teams+ Unlimited is simply the best unlimited storage option on the market today.

Speaking of Pro Teams+, our new admin transfer features also hit a few bumps early on, when far more large-scale organizations hopped on board than we anticipated. We responded by scaling out the infrastructure powering Pro Teams+ and scaling up our Dev and DevOps teams to meet demand.

We are committed to delivering enterprise-grade performance, reliability, and uptime. And we’re doing so through significant investments to our infrastructure, data centers, and people. We’re also listening and responding to feedback from you. Let us know how we can improve Sync by participating in our annual customer survey here.

Even more fabulous features from 2023

• Thumbnails are now generated instantly for images uploaded via the web panel (previously you needed a desktop app for this to work).
• Transferring share folder ownership is now point-and-click (previously you needed to stop the old share and create a new one).
• Share folder management is now picture-perfect with full support for Sync profile pictures.
• Our new duplicate file feature will help you get new projects started faster.
• Share safer with view-only permissions on video links. With this feature enabled, the people you share with can watch your video, with no option to download.
• HEIF files now have thumbnail support, and you can now rotate images easily on mobile too.

Customer service = customer success

Our super-hero, in-house customer service team is ready to help answer pretty much any question you have. In fact, over 61,000 questions were answered in 2023 by real people ready to help you.

In terms of delivering best-in-class customer service, we know our response time is critical to your success. Over the course of the year, we set a goal to improve response times significantly.

Highlights include:

• Improved tiered processes.
• Expanded weekend and evening coverage.
• More team members ready to help.
• An ongoing effort to ensure your feedback (aka bug reports) result in more immediate product improvements.

The result? Expect a reply within 22 hours on average, and expect us to continue to improve.

Sync en français

A 2023 gift for our French-speaking customers: we now have a French website. Jetez un oeil ici.

Accolades

It’s no secret that people love Sync. From glowing reviews to terrific testimonials, 2023 was yet another year of seriously kind words.

Highlights include:

• RBC’s Ownr program recommends Sync.
• Tech Radar loves our unlimited storage.
• PC World gave us their Editors’ Choice award and called us “Superb!”
• Sara Loretta thinks Sync is the perfect Dropbox replacement.
• Tom’s Guide listed us as the best cloud storage.
• Pete Matheson loves our unlimited storage.
• Tasia Custode gave our new Pro Teams+ plan a glowing review.
• John Rettinger also loves our unlimited storage.
• Angel Zheng showcased how Sync enhances remote work.

Onwards and upwards

2023 was a journey of growth, learning, and success. We thank you for your patience, passion, and commitment to helping us make Sync truly the best secure cloud storage on the planet.

The post 2023 Year in Review first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.

1. Get the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything in between

Monday Musing: If you don’t ask the right question, you will not get the right answer. Make sure you focus on the question you’re asking if you want to get the correct answer. #MondayMotivation #MotivationMonday

— Ray Zinn (@Ray_Zinn_) November 6, 2023

Don’t ask “what is 35 + 7?” Instead ask “what is the meaning of life?” According to Hitchhiker’s Guide, that’ll get you the better answer.

2. Button mash if you need to

"Working hard doesn't guarantee success, but it sure increases your chances. #MotivationMonday"

— miriam aldana romero (@mirialdanaro) November 3, 2023

Life is like a video game. Even if you don’t complete the level, you still gain XP.

3. Fake it till you make it

Rise and shine, it's time to pretend we know what we're doing today! #CoffeeAddict #MotivationMonday

— Tradewmaro (@omar10alaa34) November 1, 2023

Tony Stark was just a man. Confidence made him Iron Man.

4. The building blocks to a healthy relationship

Be with someone who motivates you to do better in life because relationships are more than just falling in love. It's about inspiring each other to become better versions of yourselves day in and day out. #MotivationMonday

— Gina.M.Escalante (@GinaMBze) November 6, 2023

Sometimes the best version of yourself is dropping a hundred bucks on Lego, so as long as your partner is supportive of that endeavor…

5. Would you like fries with that?

Feeling like a potato today, but hey, even potatoes can make fries and chips! Embrace your inner potato and turn your fries into success! #PotatoPower #EmbraceYourself #MotivationMonday

— Everyday explorer || I FOLLOW BACK (@everydayxplr) November 6, 2023

Everyone loves potatoes. They’re so versatile. A valued part of any meal.

6. A message from the future

Your future self will be happy with the progress you are already making. Keep at it! #MotivationalQuotes #MotivationMonday

— Kennedy Gitahi (@kennedy_gitahi) October 30, 2023

Your future self also thinks that outfit you’re wearing is cringe. But yeah, keep up the good work!

7. Karma or destiny? 

What's meant for you will always find its way back to you. #motivationmonday #Mondaymorning

— Stacey Jackson (@staerox) November 6, 2023

Like that $5 you found in your jacket pocket!

8. Bedtime is in T-minus 16 hours

Ask yourself each morning, what do I need to do today to be satisfied going to bed? #MotivationMonday

— Austin Errthum (@A_Errthum17) October 30, 2023

Solve a Rubic’s cube, figure out why yawning is contagious, and come up with something witty to tweet…do it.

9. The roar is mightier than the baa

Lions do not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep #MotivationMonday

— James Bolton (@lokiy2j) October 30, 2023

Is that a little closed-minded of the lions? Absolutely. But I guess they’re the King Of The Jungle for a reason.

10. Map out your week

Monday's like a rolled-up map, waiting to be unfolded into a week of possibilities. #MotivationMonday #UnrollYourImagination

— Susan L Davis Author (@LandatoSusan) October 30, 2023

Your to-do list is due North. Your existential crisis is due South.

11. Rethink your goals

The goal isn’t to be rich, the goal is to have complete ownership over your time. Money is just a tool used to get you there #MotivationMonday

— Johnny Bip Rowe Jr. (@Bip_Jr) November 13, 2023

Time is money, so invest it wisely. Then you can be rich on both fronts.

12. Let haters be your motivators

#MondayMotivation: All the reasons why your doubters say you will never succeed ARE precisely WHY you MUST succeed. Doubters have it easy. They never do anything. They only shoot others down. Use their words as fuel. Chase excellence today! Make it happen! #SelfTalk #Legacy

— Bill Garland (@BillGarlandSpkr) November 13, 2023

I live rent-free in the mind of my haters.

13. #GetInSync

A winning team is one whose players are in sync. One for all and all for one #MondayMotivation

— Samir K Modi (@samirmodi) December 9, 2019

If only there was some software—cloud storage, maybe?—that could help get your Monday in sync…

Turn Monday into MonYAY

Mondays don’t stop. I hate to break it to you, but in seven days there’ll be another one. However, if you change your approach to Mondays, you don’t have to hate them. Don’t be Garfield if you can help it. Be Nermal!

The post 13 Tweets to Motivate You on a Monday first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.

It’s a loaded word, and it means something different to everyone. In Slack’s recent State Of Work survey, 27% of executives primarily measure productivity by visible activity, whereas 27% of desk workers measure it by achieving KPIs and goals.

It’s these exact differences in opinionated metrics that make it hard for leaders to effectively evaluate and encourage proper productivity. But fear not, there’s an out-of-this-world solution that’s changing how people quantify getting your best work done.

The SPACE framework offers a holistic picture of productivity, where there is no single metric.

Who created the SPACE framework?

The SPACE framework was developed by Nicole Forsgren from GitHub, Margaret-Anne Storey from the University of Victoria, and researchers from Microsoft, way back in 2021. Their objective was to create a multidimensional framework to help managers clearly define, measure, and predict productivity. And while their research focused on developers and engineers (because it’s particularly hard to measure productivity within those fields) the framework can be applied to any employee or team. Even yours!

What is the SPACE framework?

SPACE is an acronym, outlining five important elements of productivity:

• Satisfaction & Well-being
• Performance
• Activity
• Communication & Collaboration
• Efficiency & Flow

The idea is that by using “a constellation of metrics,” managers become better leaders and employees produce better results. As a bonus, SPACE differs from other productivity frameworks because it debunks common productivity misconceptions along the way. The SPACE framework tells us that:

• Productivity is not all about activity
• Productivity is not only about individual performance
• One productivity metric alone cannot tell us everything
• Productivity measures are not just for managers
• Productivity is not only about systems and tools

In short, SPACE provides a holistic way for you and your employees to think rationally about productivity in a much bigger space. Here are the details:

Satisfaction & Well-being
Satisfaction measures how happy, healthy, and fulfilled your employees are. When you’re satisfied with the work you’re doing and the company you work for, you are more likely to be productive.

Performance
This measures the outcome of a process, rather than the output. A copywriter might output thousands of words, but do those words connect with the intended audience?

Activity
Activity is the opposite of Performance but is just as relevant. It captures all the actions or outputs that happen, big or small, and is a strong measure of how time is being spent.

Communication & Collaboration
Teamwork makes the dream work, which means measuring how well people work together is key. Here you look for effective lines of communication, a supportive work environment, and organic collaboration.

Efficiency & Flow
Getting into a focused headspace typically involves removing all sources of interruption and delay. This is vital to improved productivity because fun fact: you’re twice as likely to make a mistake after being interrupted.

How do you use the SPACE framework for your team?

While SPACE was originally designed for developers and engineers, the principles can be applied to any employee or team. You can use SPACE to enhance productivity on three levels:

• Individual
• Team/group
• System (the end-to-end work through a system)

The key is that for each level, you need to define a set of metrics that work for both you and your team. More importantly, once defined, these metrics become part of every conversation, including weekly 1:1’s, DSU’s, Level-10’s, team meetings, project kickoff meetings, post-mortems…you get the idea. Try these to start:

• Satisfaction & Well-being – measure happiness scores, how people are feeling (at work and at home), and measure the frequency of highlights and wins
• Performance – measure outcomes as they relate to projects, including revenue, churn, engagement, or customer feedback
• Activity – measure the overall output of work as it compares to others, project progress, and if projects meet deadlines
• Communication & Collaboration – measure meeting frequency, participation in collaborative workspaces, and awareness of the team at large on tasks
• Efficiency & Flow – measure the amount of focus time, interruptions, last-minute projects, or how often goalposts are moved

Life hack: a useful way to quantify all of this is through visualization. SPACE can be explored via a simple table available to both managers and employees. Here’s what this would look like for a Copywriter:

Want to go deeper into SPACE?

Furthermore, once you’ve established a regular cadence with SPACE at the overall level, you can also look at the framework in terms of more specific parts of work. Use each element to evaluate and optimize productivity in relation to tasks such as recurring events, projects, meetings, and cross-departmental efforts. In our Copywriting example, we would look closely at the processes, tools, and resources used specifically during the task of writing content.

How to get the most out of the SPACE framework

To ensure a successful launch, use these additional recommendations to help your team reach for the stars.

• Use at least 3 or more elements to get the most well-rounded understanding of productivity.
• Limit your metrics to just one or two for each element. The power of the SPACE framework comes from combining multiple elements.
• Use perceptual data for at least one metric, such as a survey, to get a more complete picture.
• Be wary of bias as data points like age and experience can affect elements of SPACE.

The benefits of the SPACE framework

Enabling people and teams to work effectively may seem daunting while peering through a tiny telescope. But it’s easy when you look at the big picture and get everyone involved. The SPACE framework will give you:

• More prioritization and focus, which translates to better alignment with company objectives, better clarity and focus, and easier tracking of progress.
• Happier employees because your team will feel heard, valued, and empowered.
• Quicker adaptation, as the SPACE framework was developed partly to help managers navigate the productivity landscape post-COVID.
• A more balanced perspective of work, as SPACE forces you to measure both the quality and quantity of work.
• Flexibility because unlike most frameworks, SPACE works on your terms, using metrics that matter to you.

Effective metrics and over-the-moon outcomes

Employees want to be productive. Teams want to work together. As leaders, we should be leading in the most effective, holistic way possible. The SPACE framework aims to create happier, healthier workplaces with metrics that reflect what’s happening on the ground. Or maybe the moon. It’s not rocket science.

The post Reach for the Stars with the SPACE Productivity Framework first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.

A quick look back: Sync started in 2011 with the goal of creating a private cloud storage space—something unheard of at the time. Sync co-founders Thomas Savundra, Suhan Shan, and Darius Antia then built our company with the free and Pro versions of the Sync you know and love today launching in the summer of 2013 under the name Sync.com.

Ten years, 2.2 million users, and 8 billion files later, Sync is stronger than ever with a host of innovative features designed to help people work better together. Highlights include unlimited storage space, integrated desktop, mobile, and web apps, team collaboration, secure file sharing, custom branding, Sync CloudFiles, SOC-2 and SOC-3, GDPR, and more. All with fully managed infrastructure and incredible in-house customer service.

World-class cloud storage

In addition to building world-class cloud storage, our company has redefined what it means to be in Sync. We are truly global with employees all around the world getting their best work done with Sync! Being in Sync is that a-ha moment that helps us level up and grow. We do this through the lens of our values: humanity, ownership, growth, and commitment. Because when we’re in sync with our values and each other, we can do incredible things.

Sync is just getting started! We’re on a mission to create a safe space for the world to collaborate. We believe that making Sync accessible to everyone is the best way for the world to share big ideas, store important information, and collaborate on game-changing projects to make the world a better place.

Thanks to all of you in Sync! We’re so grateful for your support. And here’s to the next 10 years of building a better cloud.

A decade of Sync.com by the numbers:

The post Celebrating 10 Years of Sync.com first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.

Productivity is a highly coveted state of being, and we all know that Twitter is the last place you should go in your quest for it. So I’ll bring Twitter to you. No matter what is hindering your productivity, these useful hacks will epically elevate your workdays and get your brain back in business.

1. Be the fearless hero

Productivity hack:

Listen to Hans Zimmer.

— Oliver Anwar (@theoliveranwar) October 7, 2022

Epic movie soundtracks can make even the driest of to-dos feel like the adventure you’ve been craving.

2. Got the need for speed?

My favorite productivity hack – watch Youtube videos on 1.5X speed.

— Sleepless Yogi (@sleeplessyogi) December 1, 2022

By consuming more information in a shorter period of time, you’ll have more free time…to watch more YouTube.

3. Eyes on the prize

My productivity hack is ignoring everything related to Elon Musk and crypto.

— Justin Welsh (@thejustinwelsh) November 15, 2022

To the moon? To Mars? Ground yourself for now, and don’t get distracted by fleeting trends.

4. Speak your truth!

Productivity Hack: Instead of saying, "I should do _____," start saying, "I'm going to do _____."

It's a minor change, but it can actually help your brain switch from intention to action.

— Jandra Sutton (@jandralee) December 20, 2019

“I am going to read all four hundred and twelve unread emails in my inbox!” and then do it.

5. Give yourself time to waste time

Productivity Tip:

Instead of trying to avoid distractions,
try putting them in your calendar.

You'll be able to let go and focus better.

— Jordan Parker | Success Frameworks (@JordanDParker_) November 17, 2022

10:30-10:35 – do the daily Wordle

2:24-3:00 – encase Dwight’s stapler in Jell-O

6. First the worst, second the best

The best productivity hack for me is doing the hard things first.

— Kushagra Oberoi (@copywithkush) November 29, 2022

Sometimes the most difficult thing in life is just getting out of bed. But once you’re up, you won’t believe how easy it is to get dressed!

7. Factory reset your brain

Nice little productivity hack: Take 5 deep breaths with your eyes closed when task switching.

It’s like a mental reset. Helps start your next task with a clear mind, ready to be filled with fresh ideas.

— Pedro Wunderlich (@pddro) December 7, 2022

When faced with a new task, be like George Constanza and shift into soup mode. Serenity now!

8. The dream team

Underrated productivity hack:

Keep your inner circle on board with your priorities and long term goals.

— Stephen Hanna (@stephenhanna_) December 4, 2022

With the right people, you won’t have to do [insert your goal here] alone. Where would Batman be without Alfred and Robin?

9. Work for the weekend

Productivity hack:

Take weekends off.

— Dylan Bridger | Email Marketer (@dylan_bridger) June 30, 2022

Climbing a mountain is so much more rewarding when you take time to rest and enjoy the view.

10. Pobody’s Nerfect

Productivity hack : Done is better than perfect

— Recozilla (@JoinRecozilla) July 25, 2022

Most times, something is better than nothing. So stop tinkering. It’s fine. Really.

11. Stop procaffeinating

i have an easy productivity hack that costs about the same as a cup of coffee:

ok, its a cup of coffee

— domm (@domm) December 22, 2020

(No, I didn’t make that up!) If you know what makes you feel more energized and focused, do more of that!

12. DND is so yesterday

Productivity hack: Throw your phone in a lake

— Mr. Burrito Bowl (@mrburritobowl) December 11, 2020

Any body of water will do.

13. Pick your battles

Best productivity hack:

When you’re about to explain to someone why they were wrong on Twitter…and then deciding not to

— Kirill Makharinsky (@kirill) November 11, 2019

Save your energy for more of the important things in life. Like debating whether it’s Natalie Portman or Keira Knightly in that one movie…

14. Maybe robots aren’t all evil?

My new favorite writing hack:
1. ask ChatGPT to "explain [thing]"
2. ask it "explain [thing] to a CEO"
3. ask it "explain [thing] to a third grader"
4. take key sentences from each, combine and rewrite

— David Demaree (@ddemaree) December 6, 2022

Brb while I use this hack to try and explain artificial intelligence and machine learning to my dear Italian grandmother.

15. It’s all bad news anyway

Boring productivity hack:

I turned off the news in 2015.

— The Intuitive Writing School (@JacqFisch) November 29, 2022

Get your news in a better, more exciting way: from nihilistic memes on social media made by Gen-Z.

16. Don’t settle for unsatisfactory solutions

I just switched from Dropbox to https://t.co/Mh2zSZr5bK. What a beautiful clean interface. And privacy. Love it.

PS, no not getting paid by them. Just passing on a tip.

— Grace Lidia Suárez (@gracels) April 15, 2019

The grass is greener on the other side. We promise!

Complete your quest

Hopefully one or more of these hacks from Twitter manages to shift your brain from idle to drive. Say goodbye to TikTok rabbit holes and hello to your most productive day ever.

Got a productivity hack of your own? Tweet it to us!

The post 16 Productivity Hacks According to Twitter first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.

Stay social

Going from a bustling office to being home alone is quite a change. Peace and quiet is great for getting work done, but there’s a reason why solitary confinement is a prison punishment. We’re social creatures, and when loneliness sets in, mental health suffers. Loneliness was a work from home problem long before the pandemic and now it’s become a whole lot worse. If you’re feeling alone, know you’re not the only one. Here’s how to stay social, without the water cooler:

• Go double remote. One day a week, work from somewhere else. Coffee shops, parks, and libraries are great places to get work done. And with more people in your midst, you won’t feel so isolated.
• Reinvent the water cooler. You are allowed to talk to coworkers about things not related to work. Awful movie reviews? Wild weekend stories? Restaurant recommendations? Build a sense of community and create connections simply by chatting.
• Turn the camera on. Face-to-face interactions, physical reactions, emotions, and laughter are what makes us social creatures. It’s easy to lose sight of this when working from home.
• Eat out. Break out of solitary confinement every now and then and eat something better than prison food. The change of scenery helps too.

Overcome distractions

There’s this idea that working from home means we’re in our element, so obviously we can get our best work done. But that’s not always the case. From the allure of social media to cats strolling on the keyboard, to microwaves scrambling the Wi-Fi, our homes are not always set up for success. When life gets in the way of work, productivity suffers. Here’s the remedy:

• Set boundaries. When you share living spaces, everyone needs to know when you need complete, uninterrupted silence. The cat may not accommodate you, though.
• Designate a specific workspace. A distraction-free area—be it a full room or a small corner of one—is key for productivity. And use this space only for work!
• Remove distractions. This includes all phones and devices with notifications and the TV. Don’t let distractions take over just because your hours are flexible. Use airplane mode if you need to.
• Take breaks. Regular breaks make distractions less temping. Get up, stretch your body, and go for a walk to get back in the zone.

Conquer communication complications

With the shift to working from home, we lost the ability to ask quick questions face to face. Technology was supposed to make the distance doable, but technical difficulties make even the most basic communication agonizing. It’s fixable, here’s how:

• Don’t over communicate. Not everything needs to be a long meeting. Aim for quick conversations with less explaining, less micromanaging, and less wasted time.
• Use technology wisely. Notice your team getting bogged down by the tech? Constantly informing people they’re on mute? Then it’s time for new tools. Replace email with messaging, whiteboards with digital kanban boards, and settle on one video conferencing tool. And of course, move your documents to Sync for easy collaboration from anywhere.
• Manage miscommunication. When you’re not speaking face-to-face it’s easy to get caught in a game of broken telephone. So be sure to ask questions, take meeting notes, and be open about any points of confusion to keep the lines clear.
• Build trust. The best communication happens when everyone feels connected. Reply to messages the same day, ensure everyone knows who to go to when they have questions, and encourage time for fun to unify the team.

Make room for work and play

When your home is your office and your office is your home, it’s hard to keep a balance. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, and with work from home, the all work part tends to take over. Even with Right to Disconnect Laws taking effect, the ever-present work makes it hard to find time to play. How do you keep it all balanced so you don’t burnout like Jack? Here’s how:

• Fully disconnect. When work time is done, shut down the laptop, turn off the computer, stop checking email, and log out of everything related to work. Mail notifications should not be waking you up at night.
• Enjoy life. There’s more to life than work. Get your balance back by focusing on family, friends, hobbies, nature, sports, games, extracurricular activities, and rest.
• Take vacations. Go far, far away from home with family or friends. And when on vacation, stay on vacation. Set your workplace status to vacation mode so you’re left alone.
• Take care of yourself. Get the proper amount of sleep, stick to a schedule, and don’t show up to work in your pajamas (even if your office is your bedroom). Take time for lunch and fuel your body well.

Steady yourself

Yes, working from home is now a long-term lifestyle. This is our new norm. Which means it’s time to ditch the perpetual pajama pants and re-route the ten-second commute. By staying social, overcoming distractions, conquering communication complications, and making room for work and play, you’ll wobble less and get more done on both sides of the balance beam. Work from home the right way to stay steady and in sync.

The post Work from Home the Right Way first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.

Because once upon a time that’s what meetings were like for us. All talk, no action. Mute on, cameras off. Tabbed out to tab in on anything else. It got to the point that my own mid-meeting routine was all about scrolling copious amounts of Instagram. Because it felt like the most productive thing to do. Been there?

Of course, the mindless scrolling must come to an end. Here’s what you can do to get your meetings trending again. It worked for us, and it will work for you too.

When chaos reigns supreme

Imagine a group of super-smart, like-minded people wandering around aimlessly with no sense of purpose or direction. That was our meetings. Conversations that ebbed and flowed at the whim of those tabbed in. In-person attendees chatting amongst themselves. It may not sound like chaos, but in the context of effective communication, it was chaos of the highest order. We found that these types of meetings were most pronounced when they lacked structure. Here’s our advice:

• Appoint a moderator. If you’re running the meeting, that’s going to be you! Effective meetings need a leader to keep the group on topic, on time, and focused. To keep things moving.
• Set an agenda. Send out a short bullet point summary of what is to be covered ahead of time, so everyone has time to prepare.
• Stick to the plan. If new must-discuss issues or topics start taking over, break them out into separate meetings. This will save a lot of time.
• Keep the group size to a minimum. Conversations get exponentially more complex as group sizes grow. Keep Dunbar’s numbers in mind and only invite only those that need to be there. No more than 8 and your meeting will be great!
• For even more structure, consider following a meeting framework. We’ve successfully integrated components of the Level-10 meeting format into our group meets. You can too.

It’s not a spectator sport

To win the game you need your best players on the field, court, ice, sheet, rink…you get the idea. Too many times in our own meetings our elite players were sitting out. Disengaged. Not a word to be heard. Here’s how we got slam dunks every time:

• Invite the group to suggest meeting talking points ahead of time.
• Get the group warmed up with something fun. Share wins or aha-moments, offer up one-word openers, or ask a question. Use the WIFLE approach to get to the heart of how everyone is feeling. A quick round-robin to kick things off on a positive note makes all the difference. Try this: “The zombie apocalypse is coming, who do you want on your team?”
• Make it collaborative! Use a live document editor, or collaborative tools like Figma to gamify the meeting. A virtual whiteboard with everyone posting and voting on ideas will bring any meeting to life.
• Engage the quiet ones. If your elite players seem distant, pull them back into orbit directly. A simple ask is usually all that’s needed: what do you think?
• Limit distractions. Whether you’re meeting in-person or virtually, you need everyone’s attention. Close tabs, turn off phones, and keep the cameras rolling. Make it mandatory.
• End the meeting with a round of feedback. Get everyone to rate the meeting out loud, from 1 to 10, 1 being the worst game ever, 10 being a total game-changer, with reasons why.

The time suck

Do we need more time at work, or do we need to be more disciplined with our time at work? When 70% of the team is telling you that their productivity has tanked because of meeting time, it’s time to make changes. Because time is money. Consider that a 1-hour meeting with 6 people is 6 hours of productivity time potentially lost. Multiply that by several meetings per day. There’s simply not enough time. So how do you buy time? Here are our top time management tricks that helped us stop the clock:

• Be mindful of the gaps. Smart scheduling is so important. 30-minute gaps between meetings may seem like a good idea, but it’s not enough time to get anything done, and it’s too much time to sit idle. Leave at least an hour between meetings or get them done back-to-back.
• Stopwatch the agenda. If a scheduled topic runs overtime, set up a breakout meeting and move on to the next topic on the agenda. If the meeting itself is about to go overtime, set up a new meeting time. End every meeting on time.
• Only when necessary. “This could have been an email” is probably true. A five minute huddle on Slack can save hours of meeting time. Email gives people time to think before they speak. And just in case you forgot, if you’re all together in the office, just talk.
• Block out focus time. Meetings inevitably create more work, and you need time to get all that work done. To avoid getting caught in an infinite work loop, block off one or two afternoons or a full day per week, and stick to it. Don’t budge. People can work around your schedule.

All talk, no action

Not all meetings go bad! Sometimes they go better than expected. Chock-full of good ideas, aha-moments, and problems solved. At least that’s what it seemed like at the time. But then days go by. Weeks. Months even. And nothing happens. It’s like what happened in the meeting stayed in the meeting. So what exactly did happen? To save you from scheduling a meeting to answer that, here are our lessons learned:

• Have a record keeper. This could be the meeting moderator, or someone else. Their job is to take meeting notes and post those notes for all attendees to see. Use a shared document or team shared folder to give everyone quick and easy access.
• Assign next steps. Reserve some time at the end of the meeting to run through takeaways and next steps. Assign a name beside each, and even better, put dates beside them as well.
• Review next steps. For ongoing projects, be sure to review the previous meeting’s next steps before adding any new steps. This helps set expectations with the group on where things are at and ensures nothing is forgotten or missed.
• Ask for help. Or even better, ask people if they need help. Meetings are a team effort and everyone should be ready to pitch in to get things done.
• Celebrate the wins. Success is a great motivator, so be sure to celebrate even the smallest of wins to keep the momentum going. Pizza parties make anything possible!

Meet? Sweet!

Keep it organized. Encourage engagement. Be mindful of the time. And take action. With a little more structure and a lot more engagement, you’ll turn those mind-numbing Instagram scroll-fests into meetings that everyone wants to attend. The talk of the town. Meetings that really are imperative for productivity and totally not a waste of time!

Get your meetings in sync today.

The post 4 Ways to Solve All Your Meeting Problems first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.

Changes in Sync

We all make changes, every single day. From changing the channel to changing our routines. And it may not seem so obvious, but these everyday decisions do make a difference. Here are a few examples shared by our team:

• “I switched from cow to cashew milk and from meat-based to meat-adjacent meals. I feel so much better.”
• “We are trying to do our part for planet Earth, so we use a Brita instead of plastic water bottles.”
• I keep changing how I sleep, from where I put my head to what side of the bed I’m on. All in an effort to fall asleep faster.”
• “I switched from exercising in the morning to early evenings. It’s done wonders for my body.”
• “I switched from Sublime to VSCode. I’m coding so much faster.”

Categories of change

Why does change occur in the first place? From spur-of-the-moment changes to seasons of change, our motivation for betterment can be broken down into five categories that classify why we experience so much change in our lives. In fact, you’ve probably experienced most of them already.

Change when needs are not met

When our needs and desires are not being met, life changes are in order. The hierarchy of needs is a powerful force to be reckoned with, but ultimately, it’s all about changes for the better. Better for your basic needs, psychological needs, and overall fulfillment in life. At a basic level, we’ve all made changes to save a buck, to eat healthier, or to stay safe. Changing lanes might just save your life! We change emotionally too. Feelings of accomplishment typically result from significant life changes. We all want to reach our full potential, and it only happens with change.

Change to adapt to things you have no control over

Life comes at us fast, so we must adapt. Break a leg? You’re in for a world of change, just to get back on your feet. Unplanned events force us to act, and sometimes in ways we’d never imagine. Just think of all the changes you’ve had to make during the pandemic. Some temporary and others perhaps permanent. Either way, dealing with things as they come is the only option. And with it, more change.

Change because you have new perspectives

You’re not the you that you were in high school. Your mindset and opinions have surely changed. You’re older and wiser! From musical tastes to what you might consider fashionable, life experience brings on change. Listening to different viewpoints inspires change. Hindsight is 2020. And one thing to remember, it’s never too late to change your mind!

Change to try something new

We are creatures of habit. Predictability helps us feel organized and in control. But what happens when you get stuck in a rut? The best advice: try something new. It certainly worked for George Costanza on Seinfeld:

Waitress: Tuna on toast, coleslaw, cup of coffee?
George: Yeah. No, no, no, wait a minute. I always have tuna on toast. Nothing’s ever worked out for me with tuna on toast. I want the complete opposite of tuna on toast. Chicken salad, on rye, untoasted, with a side of potato salad, and a cup of tea!

And with that spur-of-the-moment decision, George’s life completely changed for the better! In the real world, trying something new can bring about exciting life changes you never thought possible. Booking a last-minute vacation, standing instead of sitting, or choosing the red pill just might be some of the next best things for you. You’ll never know unless you try.

Change because that’s life, baby!

Milestones and life events that are totally doable force change. So be prepared. Living on your own for the first time is certainly a big change. Changing your schedule to accommodate a friend’s wedding is doable. Changing your schedule to accommodate your own wedding? That’s doable too! We all know what happens as we get older. Life keeps changing and we need to change along with it. It’s for the best.

Changes add up. What might seem inconsequential in isolation, can be literally life-changing in the grand scheme of things. Changes fall into multiple categories too. Like changing your name. All in all, though, no matter what the motivation, understanding why can help you make the most of it. Especially if you’re not so sure if it’s time to make a change at all…

If it ain’t broke…

Change is not always easy. In fact, sometimes our brains stop us from embracing change! We’re hard-wired for routine, and habits are hard to break. So how do you change your mind, when your mind doesn’t want to change? A regimen of exercise, sleeping, meditating, caffeine, reading, listening to music, walking in nature, and not eating too much sugar can help. But simply believing is all you really need to do to enact change. Believing that a change will make things better will in fact help you commit.

Be your best you

Ultimately, the best changes in life lead to the best version of you. If the changes you are pondering or are about to make might do you some good, then it’s worth a shot! And remember, even small seemingly inconsequential changes can add up to something big. So, tomorrow morning, instead of your usual double-double, try something new! A triple chocolaty chip crème frappuccino with whipped cream, five pumps of toffee nut syrup, oat milk, and a drizzle of caramel on top. That extra-sugary caffeine kick just might be the change you need!

The post Are You Making the Best Changes? first appeared on Sync.com - Get in Sync.