Hype File, Swipe File, Hire File

You might have heard of different files, most commonly the swipe file, something you’re inspired by and will use as inspiration in work or play. Think of a private board for things to use in the future.

Something I recommend most is a hype file:

• Save screenshots where people have given you compliments

• Sent you nice feedback on work,
  or

• When friends have just said thanks, something nice or say you have gone over and above etc. 

My hype file is pinned in my Apple notes and is great when you’re having a crappy day or need a kickstart when having a low point. I split mine out into work hype, into home hype and friends hype.

A spin on the hype file is called a brag document when you have had great feedback, when they’ve got great coverage (for you, your work etc) about them or your product etc. 

Hire File

When I was in-house and developing my department (think of org design with connected profiles) I would create a Hire file.

It is a notes file of the areas we were not as strong in and is not just a list of roles but a file full of examples of very strong profiles from LinkedIn that would be great additions to my department. Hire files are more than just skills but are a well-rounded profile that would be a great hire for these roles or roles to craft in the near future. 

I would look at my hire file and see profiles of people on LinkedIn and craft job specs around their style of profile and on a couple of occasions they actually applied for the role and were standout candidates.

In your hire file don’t be afraid to save LinkedIn profiles or export to PDF and save in your hire file and reach out to these profiles, speak to them and say what you are looking to do and the timeline, often they will get back in touch closer to the time of hiring or you can keep them as warm leads.

These are all recommendations I make to my coaching clients, especially for CEOs, CPOs and CMOs.

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My Top 7 Google Workspace Hacks

Improve Your Productivity In Google Workspace

Many people especially leaders struggle when it comes to working more smartly with tools, they don’t learn the tools, they are never taught them and when it comes to time many just won’t invest a few minutes to save themselves hours.

So I wanted to share my favourite Google Suite/Workspace hacks to make your life easier and more effective in and around the suite.

Quick URL → Get Creating: Writing into the browser to create brand new docs straight away

1. slides.new - for Google Slides 

2. sheets.new - for Google Sheets 

3. docs.new - for Google Docs 

4. cal.new - for new calendar event 

Quicker Actions: Use the search feature in the left-right side to take the action / command you would like to from styling to adding a table in docs, a pivot table in sheets, to adding a diagram in slides 

Preview > Edit: Link into a Google Slides rather than send to edit interface -  With your Google Slides URL, look at the URL string and replace /edit with /preview and this link sends the viewer into that slideshow directly without the default edit view (shown below)

Mute: Use the Mute feature to slience noisy email chains or where you are CC-ed in for no real reason - tick email, go to the three dots and select mute

Hide Guestlists: Hide guest list (often this can be helpful with management meetings, big meetings and external meetings) - go into your calendar invite, edit event and untick "See guest list."

Better speaker than writer? In Google Docs - Go to ‘Tools’ and then select ‘Voice typing’. 

Get Ahead With Your Daily Agenda: Have your daily schedule emailed to you In Google Calendar settings > Other notifications > Daily agenda