Working styles have changed significantly - we have more meetings, fewer breaks between them, too many online conversations to count, and never-ending digital distractions. Loryan and Megan Strant will discuss the executive functioning challenges this presents for neurodiverse and neurotypical people alike. Learn how they leverage technology to stay productive and how their learnings can help everyone.
Microsoft Ignite 2021: Productivity tips & tricks for the age of digital overload
1.
2. Productivity Tips & Tricks for the Age of Digital
Overload
Loryan Strant MVP, Product Manager @ Insync Technology
Megan Strant MVP, User Experience and Strategy Consultant
4. Who are we?
Loryan Strant
Product Manager, Governance Specialist
Megan Strant
User Experience & Strategy Consultant
5. Who are we really?
#HumansofIT
Loryan Strant
Parent
ADHD
Husband to a wife with ASD
Megan Strant
Parent
Autism / Asperger's
Wife to a husband with ADHD
7. Factors that
influence our
overload
Increase in mode and speed of communication
(work, personal)
Too much distraction
Change to routine and working situation
Less personal space (physical, mental)
Combined with these, are our own challenges with
executive functioning.
8.
9. What are executive functioning skills?
Impulse control
• Think before acting
Emotional
control
• Keep feelings in check
Flexible thinking
• Adjust behaviour to
unexpected changes
Working memory
• Keep key information in mind
while using it
Self-monitoring
• Self-awareness to how one is
doing in the moment
Planning and
prioritisation
• To set and meet goals
Task initiation
• Take action to get started on
tasks
Organisation
• Keep track of things
physically and mentally
12. Problem Storing and accessing notes and information
in various apps
Losing thoughts and ideas
Chaotic system of work detail
Messy plans and materials
Losing your charger, headset, dongle
18. Problem Have trouble getting started on work
Challenges in setting and meeting goals
Procrastinate and then push hard to get
work complete close to deadline
Urgent overrides important work
20. Practice
To Do – offload your tasks
Provide detail
Build out steps to know what is
next
Add photos or files
Set realistic timeframes
Check in with yourself daily
21. Practice
Outlook – plan ahead
Colour code appointment types
Daily prioritization time
Review the week ahead and plan
time for work
Don’t let meetings fill your day
22. Practice
MyAnalytics – a helping hand
Read the briefing emails
Add items to To Do
Use the Insights app in Outlook
24. Problem Trouble transitioning between topics
Forget key points or detail from meetings
Challenges accessing detail in your brain on
the spot during a meeting
Remembering all the steps to a process or
task or what you committed to following up
28. Practice
Tasks in Teams (To Do and Planner)
Items assigned to you
Time stamped notes
Priority labels
Sub-tasks and checklists
Attachments
Email alerts/ reminders
29. Practice
Microsoft Teams – capture the
moment
Recording & transcript
Search through text
Review action items or issues in
your own time
Recap sections to embed detail
31. Problem Trouble holding focus on a task or person for
a period of time
Challenges shifting attention when required
from current thought
Being distracted by notifications or other
stimuli
Parkinson’s law – drag out to time allotted
rather than being efficient
33. Practice
MyAnalytics – protect your focus
Allow it to book focus time
Own your week and structure
Complete deep quality work
Change Teams status to make you
unavailable
36. Practice - extra
My Day Today
Power App + Power Automate
Outlook calendar
To Do tasks
https://www.loryanstrant.com/mydaytoday/
37. Takeaways
Executive
Functions are
human functions
Think about your
daily challenges
and if you could
restructure your
day or work
differently
Explore your
habits and
challenges you
might not realise
are impacting
your productivity
Incremental
changes can
drive wins
Respect other
people's
boundaries –
don't sabotage
another person's
productivity!
38. Thank you!
Allie Shiva Kady Bubba Anna
Ian Sandy Tim Chris Tania
Claire Darrell Bex Phil Helen
Jeff Martina Toni Laurie Nathan
@LoryanStrant / www.loryanstrant.com
@MeganStrant / www.meganstrant.com
www.youtube.com/TheStrants
Humans of IT - Microsoft Tech Community