6 new Google hacks that will make you a productivity machine

By now, we’re all sick of hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic. But one silver lining has emerged: companies across the country have adopted a hybrid work model. 

Knowing this, Google recently released updates to make the Google Workspace smart canvas, a more user-friendly and functional team program. Their goal is to help us all work better together on Google by making it easier to stay connected, be mindful of time, and be productive together.

If you didn’t know it already, you could tag people using the “@” symbol within your working Google work apps. But now, you can use the “at” symbol to designate files within your projects or meetings. This is just one of the numerous new features Google recently unveiled to help optimize how you work. Who knew the “@” symbol would become so powerful?.

Here are six of the new features to watch for.

1. Smart chip tags within docs and meetings

It’s hard to believe, but Google actually released Google Sheets and Docs 15 years ago. Now, for the 2020s, they’ve made it even easier to collaborate with their new smart chip tag.

You can now tag others and tag files within docs or even meetings as you work with the “@” symbol. For example, if you’re planning on dividing up tasks and want to include a report, instead of hyperlinking it and searching, you can now include the “@” symbol, followed by the report. No more dragging and attaching files. This feature is active in Google Docs now and is coming soon to Google Sheets.

2. Timeline view in sheets

Toggling between views has never been easier with Google’s new timeline view in Google Sheets. The new timeline view allows organizers to view data in numerous ways, giving you even more flexibility in how and what you see and work with.

Using an interactive timeline can help teams manage deadlines, check their progress, and schedule events. Now you can work right inside of Google Sheets to track progress instead of having to switch over to an outside program.

3. Google chat and meet

Teams can now jump from a discussion in Google Chat directly to building content together. This makes it easier to adjust on the fly and collaborate with coworkers and teams, no matter how far apart they are.

These improvements to Google Chat come alongside enhancements made with Google Meet, making Google competitive with Zoom and, in some cases, outdoing it. New features include live captions and translations during a Google Meet session and you can drop docs right into meetings.

4. Simple integration of Docs, Sheets, and Slides into Google Meet

Nothing is more annoying than bouncing from tab to tab when videoconferencing. Google Meet has made it so teams can integrate working Docs, Sheets, and Slides directly within a Meet. This means teams can interact and collaborate simultaneously. They will even be able to use emojis in real-time for reactions, Google stated.

5. Pageless docs

If you ever inserted a chart or photos into a doc, you undoubtedly noticed that a big graphic element could create a page break that ruined the formatting. Not anymore!

Just like the notes app on your phone, you can now have a running doc with no page breaks.  Simply toggle the pages back on if you want to print or save a multiple-page PDF.

6. Writing assistance

A common complaint among many Google Doc users is that grammar- and spell-check features can be a little dysfunctional.

Because of this, Google announced they would be introducing additional assisted writing features in Docs on the web.

According to this Google blog post, updates will include:

“[W]arnings about offensive words and language, as well as other stylistic suggestions that can speed up editing and help make your writing more impactful.”

The verdict

Google’s smart canvas will continue to evolve, just like the new ways companies are changing in response to the coronavirus pandemic. From the looks of it, Google recognizes that there’s a widespread push for a more fluid, hybrid workplace, streamlining the workflow so you can “take the friction out collaboration,” as they say, from the digital workspace.

From adding DocuSign e-signatures directly in Google Workspace to the Salesforce connector that integrates with Sheets, all the new features should help you and your team get stuff done more efficiently.