Tools that help me work
Dina shares the tools she relies on daily as a Product Manager
When I think about my favorite tools that I use to be efficient in my work, I think about the tools that I am eager to pay for even if my company isn't.
Imagine you are moving to a different company that uses a different set of tools. What are the tools you will miss?
Here is my list:
1. Whimsical
An easy prototyping tool.
Use it for quick wireframing and diagramming.
If you know me personally you most likely have heard me raving about this tool. I mostly use it to make quick wireframes as it provides predefined generic components like buttons, text fields, videos, and icons. Sometimes it is helpful for me to start laying things down when I am deep in product requirements, other times it helps to quickly run an idea by a designer or an engineer on the team.
I am genuinely impressed by the product team at Whimsical, new updates are always spot-on. They somehow found a perfect balance of releasing new features and not forgetting to improve existing ones - making workflows more efficient and fixing bugs
2. Moleskine Flow iPad app
Use it for “pencil on a napkin” ideas and wireframes.
Moleskine has done something that is really hard to get right. Famous for their good quality notebooks (yes, physical notebooks) they have introduced a digital experience that makes you feel like you are using high-quality paper.
I use Flow on the iPad to quickly draw up an idea - it helps me achieve clarity in thinking, dismiss, or deep dive into some ideas.
3. Just not sorry Gmail extension
Use it for writing work emails.
This extension illuminates words in my emails that may inadvertently weaken my message.Not news to anyone but as women in the tech industry we have to be careful with the words we are using. The tool flags words such as "just" and "actually," offering insights into why these terms might diminish our message.
The pivotal moment when I recognized the importance of mindful word choice in my professional interactions occurred during my participation in a "Girls Who Code" event back in 2015. It was there that I had the privilege of hearing journalist, Brandy Zadrozhny emphasize her deliberate avoidance of the word "just" in her communication. This revelation resonated deeply with me, marking the first time I truly grasped how the language I use professionally could influence perceptions, irrespective of my actual skills. Now add to that a layer of not being a native English-speaker.
Since then, I've relied on the extension to aid me in this journey. While I occasionally deviate from its suggestions and slip in a "just" here and there, the tool has significantly heightened my awareness of how I craft emails and express myself in a professional context through writing. Its value lies not only in the immediate changes it prompts in a given email but also in the long-term impact of fostering consciousness of my written communication habits.
Yana’s 2 cents:
I’m not a big fan of Whimsical, even though I use it a lot - it’s a corporate diagramming/wireframing tool at work. Yes, it has a lot of useful features, but its navigation and lack of customization when working in the “board” mode are driving me nuts. Big plus to Flow - absolutely love it. Never heard of the “Just not sorry” extension, but should probably try it out. I
justwanted to add one of my favorites - Jira. Many hate it, but when it’s set up right, it’s super powerful and easy to use for tracking progress of literally everything - company OKRs, roadmap, users onboarding, feedback tracking, and much more!