The Problem I Got Tired Of Solving
Twenty years into my management career, I realized I was spending more time writing about work than actually doing work.
Performance reviews. Weekly status updates. Project documentation. Meeting summaries. Stakeholder emails. The list never ended.
I’d block off Friday afternoons to “catch up on admin work.” Those three-hour sessions turned into five hours. Then evenings. Then weekends. The administrative burden of management had quietly taken over my calendar.
Meanwhile, my team needed actual leadership – strategic decisions, mentorship, removing blockers, setting direction. The stuff that only I could do. The stuff I became a manager to do.
But I was drowning in the mechanical work of translating thoughts into polished prose. Every. Single. Week.
When Everything Changed
In late 2022, I tried ChatGPT for the first time. Skeptically. Like most people, I assumed it was hype.
I pasted my messy Friday afternoon notes into ChatGPT and asked it to draft my weekly team update. Thirty seconds later, I had a coherent draft. I edited it for two minutes to sound like me. Sent it.
That task usually took 30 minutes. It took 5.
The next week, I used it for 1-on-1 prep. Then meeting summaries. Then performance review drafts. Not to replace my thinking – to handle the mechanical work of organizing and articulating what I already knew.
By month three, I’d reclaimed 5-7 hours per week. Hours I spent on actual management work. Strategic planning. Coaching my team. Thinking about problems instead of documenting them.
Why This Site Exists
Over the past three years, I’ve tested dozens of tools that claim to help managers. Some are garbage – solving problems nobody has, or solving real problems badly.
But some are genuinely transformative. ChatGPT for writing. Claude for complex analysis. Otter for meetings. Grammarly for catching mistakes before they embarrass you.
I started sharing what worked with other managers. The response was always the same: “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this sooner?”
That’s why Productivity Radar exists.
What You’ll Find Here
Honest reviews of tools – I test everything myself. If it’s overhyped, I’ll tell you. If it’s worth paying for, I’ll tell you that too.
Step-by-step guides with real examples – Not theory. Actual workflows I use weekly. Copy-paste prompts. Specific use cases.
No fluff – You’re busy. I’m busy. Every article gets to the point fast.
Who This Site Is For
New managers who just got promoted and are overwhelmed by the volume of writing and communication suddenly required.
Experienced managers who know there has to be a better way but haven’t had time to figure out what these AI tools actually do.
Anyone who’s tired of spending Friday afternoons writing about work instead of doing work.
My Background (The Relevant Parts)
I’ve been managing teams for 20 years. Teams as small as 2, as large as 50. Startups where I wore every hat. Established companies with process for everything.
I’ve written hundreds of performance reviews. Thousands of weekly updates. Tens of thousands of emails. I’ve sat through more meetings than I care to count and taken more notes than any human should have to transcribe.
I know what drains your time as a manager because it drains mine too.
Why Anonymous?
I maintain anonymity because of my current role, but everything you read here comes from real management experience. The challenges you’re facing? I’m facing them too. The tools I recommend? I’m using them today.
I’m not an AI evangelist. I’m not trying to convince you the robots are taking over. I’m a manager who found practical tools that gave me my time back, and I’m sharing what actually works.
What I Promise You
Honest assessment – I’ll tell you when free versions are good enough and when paid versions are worth it. I’ll also tell you what does and doesn’t work.
Real experience – Every recommendation comes from actually using these tools in management work, not reading press releases about them.
No BS – You don’t have time for hype. Neither do I.
Get in Touch
Questions? Suggestions? Found something I should test?
I read every message and respond to most of them. If you’re facing a specific management challenge and wondering if these tools can help, reach out. I’ve probably dealt with it.
The Bottom Line
You became a manager to lead people and build things, not to spend half your time on administrative busywork.
These tools won’t replace your judgment or your relationships with your team. But they can handle the mechanical work so you can focus on the management work that actually matters.
That’s what Productivity Radar is about. Reclaiming your time so you can do the job you were actually hired to do.
Let’s get your Fridays back.
Productivity Radar is published by Productivity Insights Media LLC, based in Texas.