Two apps that boost my effectiveness as a colleague and leader
As a design leader, I know that how I present myself needs to be crafted to the same level of detail as the work I’m responsible for. So, when I come across tools that add to my capabilities, I don’t hesitate to adopt them. Today, I’ll share two tools; one saves me time while ensuring I stay on schedule, and the other helps me look good, literally!
Meeter
Available for: macOS & iOS
I’m a firm believer that punctuality is a sign of respect, doubly so when you’re a leader. The fact that all of my meetings now occur over video hasn’t changed that. While launching the right URL to join a video conference isn’t hard, I found it often took more steps than I wanted, which is annoying as I would lose little bites of time from my day.
This is where Meeter comes in. One minute before a video meeting, I receive a notification with a simple button to launch the call with the appropriate app or browser. I don’t have to track anything down, and it ensures that I’m on time.
Cost: Free, but the one-time $8 in-app purchase is worth it
Camo Studio
Available for: macOS, iOS, and Windows (beta)
The external webcam provided by IT is, at best, okay, and often not great when dealing with low lighting situations. But you know what does have a great camera? The iPhone, including the older models that lie around, unused.
With Camo Studio, I’m able to put my old iPhone 5 to use as an external camera, gaining all of the benefits of Apple’s engineering. Why wouldn’t we want to take advantage of their lenses and sensors, as well as the underlying software that handles lighting, autofocus, and the thousands of adjustments? For meetings where I really want to look my best, I’ll use my current phone (Xs), which truly shines. I’ve lost track of the comments I’ve received about the high-quality stream, even in low light.
Camo can make all the difference if you‘re interviewing for a new role, pitching a prospective client, or presenting a critical idea to the execs.
Cost: Free with a watermark, and limited functionality, $40/year to remove the watermark and gain a lot more control.
$40 a year may sound steep, but it directly impacts how I present myself and ultimately, how I represent my team. Spending on a great camera setup falls in the same category as being selective about the clothes I would wear to the office back in the before times.
I’m happy to support both apps and have bought full licenses. I highly recommend you do the same if you can.