Embedded Files
This is a selection of over 40 personally recommended free apps for mobile devices which may be of interest and useful to busy leaders and managers who like to learn something useful or catch up when out and about.
The first section is a range of leadership and management apps. The second section relates to NHS and healthcare apps. And the third section is a personal general section of apps which may be relevant for you. Each section is in alphabetical order - I have not yet ranked them in order of importance or quality - and some are better than others!
This is a personal selection. My main criteria for selection are that apps should be:
- completely free (I have tried to avoid the 'lite' versions which seem merely to promote the purchase of in-app purchases or expensive books)
- interesting
- useful and helpful
- easy (and sometimes fun) to use.
I have given a brief description of each of them (with text from the publishers shown in quotation marks). The links under each take you through to either the iTunes website or the publishers' own website. You may be able to download the app from these websites, but it is probably easier to download direct from the iTunes store.
These are all suitable for both the iPhone and the iPad. I have where possible indicated the extent to which content is available off-line (which is handy if you are out of range of a signal or if you cannot get a free wifi or phone signal). Most of the apps should also be available for Android smartphones and tablets and I would welcome feedback from anyone about this.
The best way to get them and test them is to go direct to your app supplier (Apple’s app store for iPhone or iPad or Google’s Play store for Android phones or tablets), and search for the name of the app. You will be able to read more about each app there before deciding whether to download and install it.
It would be great also to have your feedback and comments on whether this selection is useful, whether you find any of the apps not so helpful, and whether you have any personal favourites of your own. And as this is such a fast-moving world, I should be grateful if you would let me know if any of these apps or links do not work. Please contact me by email on john.hunt@gmx.co.uk with your thoughts and comments, and help us to develop this further for a future edition.
John Hunt
Development manager & coach
Leadership and Management
Leadership and Management
Nearly all of these apps are American (or 'global'), and so you may find that there could be some cultural differences - although most of the material is readily transferable to management and leadership in any country. But does anyone know of any specifically British management and leadership apps?
Here they are:
Best Leadership quotes
This has been compiled by Michael Quach, and is a 'collection of the most influential leadership quotes on motivation, responsibility, commitment and success. Read these amazing leadership quotes each day to inspire individual and organizational achievement.' Brightly coloured. You can save favourite quotes - but be careful where you tap to avoid being directed to an advert in the free edition. (Fully available offline).
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/best-leadership-quotes/id428181991?mt=8
Dale Carnegie Training - Personal leadership
Dale Carnegie Training Apps aim to 'make individuals more effective in the workplace. The apps cover topics such as leadership, management, and communication. They feature time tested tips, videos, and interactive tools.' They include sections on work-life balance, leadership styles, and self-motivation and this is all rather good. Features:
• 13 video segments that demonstrate key leadership principles
• Learn Carnegie ways to win people to your way of thinking
• Daily Dose of Confidence—receive a daily tip that will keep you feeling positive and enthusiastic.
(Mostly available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/dale-carnegie-training-personal/id433493981?mt=8
Personal Leadership is part one of a three-part series of apps on Leadership. I have not tested the others, but you may wish to try them out. They are: Team leadership, Company leadership, Secrets of success, and Secrets of success in the digital age.
HBR management tip of the day
This is excellent and thought-provoking, taken from articles from the Harvard Business Review or its blogs. It offers 'quick, practical management tips and ideas. New business tips are delivered to the app five days per week.' This app now comes with the ability to share Tips via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and email. (Not available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/hbr-tip/id934573923?mt=8
How 2 Lead
This is from The Ken Blanchard Companies (described as 'a global leader in workplace learning, productivity, performance, and leadership training solutions '). This app 'allows you to stay up-to-date with the latest in leadership, corporate development, and management practices. Read Blanchard blogs, access videos, and receive updates on new thought-leadership and research.' It includes 20 leadership articles, 10 blogs and 10 coaching articles, all of which are constantly updated and changing. There is also access to what seems to be a limitless selection of videos. (Mostly available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/how2lead-2.0/id694949399?mt=8
http://www.kenblanchard.com/Leading-Research/Blog/How2Lead-App
HPO Center
This app is all about how to become a High Performance Organisation (HPO), and it offers a Leadership Toolbox with information, cases, ideas to get started, videos, etc. It has been produced by INSEAD's André de Waal’s HPO Center, 'based on five years of research, analysis of 290 studies and practical research within 1,470 organizations in 50 countries.' Topics include High Performance Leadership and the 5 stands of success - Management quality, Openness & action orientation, Long-term orientation, Continuous improvement & renewal and Employee quality. You can even carry out your own personal High Performance Leadership test (challenge yourself to improve - in 35 questions). (Fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/app/hpo-leadership-toolbox/id543205661
iMission
This app is from Remco Claassen. It claims to give 'help and advice to discover your own passions & motivations, formulate a personal mission statement, and create specific guidelines and goals. Step by step you will find a path to an energetic life plan.' It is a sort of self-coaching tool, and is aimed at 'those that are passionate, want to recover from a burn-out, want to prevent a burn-out, job-hoppers, and people that are looking for a suitable job.' You can formulate a personal mission statement quickly, 'and you don't have to do it all at once because the app will 'remember' your data.' (Fully available offline)
http://appshopper.com/lifestyle/imission-de-mission-statement-tool-van-remco-claassen
Jossey-Bass Leadership skills
This app says it 'delivers proven Leadership content, both theory and practice, in a bite size format from some of our bestselling authors and globally recognized thought-leaders such as Patrick Lencioni, Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner, Bill George and many others. There are well-presented summaries on topics such as: Your career as a leader, Defining and communication your mission, Leading a high performance workforce, Creating a culture of success, and Managing crisis and change. 'Learn from these established thought-leaders.... New content will be added on a regular basis to make this app your trusted leadership skills resource now and in the future…' (Mostly available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/lk/app/jossey-bass-leadership-skills/id468222893?mt=8
Leadership Top Quotes
'Largest collection of Leadership Quotes. A beautiful collection of Leadership quotes. Users can share them via Facebook,Email,SMS and Twitter.' For a random quote, you can just shake your device! (fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/leadership-top-quotes-inspirational/id644853008?mt=8
Manager Tools
This app provides easy access to the Manager Tools basics, forums, blog, twitter feed, video, podcasts and exclusive new checklists and content. Manager Tools is an American organisation which has produced over 400 podcasts, and this app has an emphasis on what it calls 'the Manager Tools Trinity' (one-on-one, feedback, and coaching, plus delegation). (Available offline, except audio)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/manager-tools/id360531868?mt=8
Mindful Leadership
'The Mindful Leadership app offers guided meditations organized by specific themes or categories that over the years people have proven to be of greatest benefit and value.' There are 10 themes, each with a written piece supported by an audio guided meditation.(fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mindful-leadership/id777820403?mt=8
Mind tools
This is an excellent app - 120 subjects, which include team management, leadership, strategy, problem solving, decision-making, project management, time management, stress management, communication skills, creativity, information skills and career skills. The articles are comprehensive, with pictures, diagrams and tips. 'Access more than 100 concisely explained tools that make you a better boss. Learn useful skills whenever you have a spare moment. This is a free, fun and inspirational app. We've made each topic into a handy, easily understood tool containing the actions you need to take to improve. It's fast and easy to use.' (Fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mind-tools/id420985422?mt=8
http://www.mindtools.com/Apps/
Personal Growth and success
'If there is one goal in anyone’s life, it is always to succeed at something. Whether you want to succeed at business, sports, relationships, anything, it requires a certain mindset to get you constantly moving towards your goals. Improve your life and become the successful person you want to be, build a solid foundation of self-confidence and achieve happiness as a result of your efforts'. This is a sort of self-help guide and is really no more than a collection of essays in three groups - confidence, happiness and success. (Fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/personal-growth-success-build/id799955884?mt=8
Success magazine
Success Magazine describes itself as 'the entrepreneur and intrapreneur guide for achievement. Every issue of Success Magazine brings you relevant thought leaders and success experts, both past and present, who reveal key ideas and strategies to help you excel in every area of your personal and professional life.' It has featured articles, quote of the day, and the latest edition of the magazine which can normally be downloaded free (previous editions have to be paid for). (only any previously downloaded magazine available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/success-magazine-hd/id469231869?mt=8
The following may now no longer be available:
The following may now no longer be available:
These apps were recommended in the previous edition of this directory but they do not seem to be available now. Do you agree? Have you found some good alternatives?
The Leadership Challenge
'The Leadership Challenge Mobile Tool, based on concepts developed by best-selling authors James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, is a convenient performance support app for busy, on-the-go leaders'Y It's rather good because you can learn about and test out your commitment to each of the six elements of Kouzes' and Posner's model, and then draw up your own action plan.(part available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/leadership-challenge-mobile/id485416164?mt=8
Leadership Development
This app is produced by the American HR Management magazine. It includes 'the latest discussions, webinars and topics surrounding Leadership skills training and development from our featured experts and publishers.' Topics include: Leadership development, Leadership skills training, Organisational change & development, HR strategy and Talent management. (Not available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/leadership-development./id504195894?mt=8
http://applature.com/hr-management-application/
Leadership Keys
This app comes from a company called 'True North Leadership' headed by Relly Nadler. The app steers you through 10 Leadership Keys relating to the leadership skills for a top performer, and how to be effective as a manager and leader at work. 'Each Leadership Key has a short video describing how to apply it in your daily work as a leader, plus the associated PDF image for easy viewing of the steps to take. The tools are: Leadership two-step, Delegation, Giving feedback, Coaching for performance, Assumption ladder for decisions, Assumption ladder for communication, Emotional audit, Tell/sell/test, Managing up and partnering, and White space, and there are a number of associated competencies covered by the app. (All text but not images available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/leadership-keys/id457296921?mt=8
http://www.truenorthleadership.com/ei-leadership-tools/books-apps-audio-cds/
Leadership and Values - Concordia University
This app is quite clever and thought-provoking, and quite quick to do. It ' allows you to consider 52 common leadership values and add one or two of your own. Through a series of forced-choice activities, you will select and make explicit your five top core leadership values. There is an inspirational quote for each of your core leadership values. (Fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/leadership-values-by-concordia/id393107178?mt=8
Start with why
Simon Sinek 'is leading a movement to inspire people to do the things that inspire them. He writes, consults and speaks all over the world about the power of WHY - the purpose, cause or belief that drives every one of us. ' It is based on a simple idea, ‘The Golden Circle’, which he says is grounded in the biology of human decision-making and is changing how leaders and companies think and act. Take a look and judge for yourself. 'If you’re someone who wants to inspire others or wants to find someone to inspire you, then the journey starts here.' (Mostly available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/know-why/id336378996?mt=8
Talk less, say more
This is by Connie Dieken. The app 'will help you be more influential and make things happen in our distracted, attention-deficit world. It’s full of specific tips and take-aways to ensure that you’re fully heard, clearly understood, and ignite positive action in any business or social situation.' It is about Connect, Convey and Convince 'giving you more power to change minds and inspire remarkable results – while talking less.' All this on 63 cards, which are fun to use - 'swipe, shake, rotate and spin your way through'. (Fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/talk-less-say-more/id327031107?mt=8
Wheel of Leadership
This is only available for iPad (or tablets), as you need a bigger screen to see it).'The Wheel of Leadership is an inspiration wheel to give you deeper understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding.' It's a bit of an oddity, because all it seems to do is to randomly (and in an attractive way) mix three words together in five lots of three interconnected wheels which you can spin as often as you like - but this may result in some sort of serendipity inspiration! (Fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wheel-of-leadership+/id670092110?mt=8.
Health and the NHS
Health and the NHS
There are a very large number of apps if you search for ‘NHS’ in the iTunes app store. Many are disease-specific, but I have listed some of the more general ones below.
In addition, although they are not apps, it is possible to store links to websites via icons on your iPhone screen by saving your favourite websites via the Safari web browser and tapping 'add to home screen'. For example, I have done this with some BBC websites, the Guardian's health section), the Health Service Journal and the King's Fund. This not only provides instant access to these websites but also the screen for these websites is automatically reformatted to mobile format for easy reading.
NHS Choices
The NHS apps library is currently in development, and details are at https://apps.beta.nhs.uk/ . This gives details of over 70 health approved apps. See also
- The NHS Choices tools library - http://www.nhs.uk/tools/pages/toolslibrary.aspx
- Choosing a health and fitness tracker - http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/pages/tools-and-technology-that-can-help.aspx
- The National Information Board's workstreams on progress on this - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-information-boards-workstreams
Lab tests online UK
This is the free mobile version of Lab Tests Online-UK, 'the award-winning, non-commercial website developed by doctors and healthcare scientists to help you better understand the laboratory tests that are a fundamental part of routine healthcare.'
http://labtestsonline.org.uk/news/app-launch-uk/
NHS Employers
For information on the Do OD app (which includes the Space to Think tool), see http://www.nhsemployers.org/campaigns/organisational-development/do-od-culture-change-app
Patient Access
Patient.co.uk 'is one of the most trusted medical resources in the UK, supplying evidence based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals', and is used by many GPs. Its app, Patient Access, saves you precious time by providing online access to your local NHS GP services, meaning less time in waiting rooms and less time on hold.https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/patient-access/id612905214?mt=8
https://patient.info/patient-access
General
General
There is a huge range of apps available now, many of which are free. You have a look at the categories and titles on Apple's iTunes preview webpages at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/genre/ios/id36?mt=8
Here are some of my personal favourite free apps:
Apple podcasts
The Apple Podcasts app 'is the easiest way to discover, subscribe to and play your favourite podcasts. Explore hundreds of thousands of free audio and video podcasts from the Podcasts Store. Create personal stations that update automatically with new episodes. Sync playlists from iTunes, or create an On-The-Go playlist to play just the episodes you want. You can even play popular podcasts directly from the built-in Top Charts.' It means that you can enjoy all your audio and video podcasts in a single app, and there is the option of streaming episodes or downloading to listen while offline.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/podcasts/id525463029?mt=8
http://www.apple.com/uk/support/ios/podcasts/
BBC iPlayer and BBC iPlayer Radio
These excellent BBC apps have recently been updated and improved still further, and they enable everyone to keep up with BBC TV and Radio on the go.
'The BBC iPlayer app now lets you: Download TV programmes to watch on the move; Watch and listen live over Wi-Fi and 3G; Catch up on the past seven days; Add shows to your Favourites so new episodes automatically stack for you to enjoy later; Browse programmes by Schedule, Featured and Most Popular' (NB this does not work outside the UK)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bbc-iplayer/id416580485?mt=8
The BBC iPlayer Radio app lets you: Take BBC Radio with you wherever you go; Listen to live radio from all the BBC’s UK radio stations over Wi-Fi and 3G; Quickly switch between stations using a radio tuner dial; See what’s on-air across all stations via an EPG; Listen to and/or download on-demand programmes from the past 30 days; Listen to BBC Podcasts; Browse programmes by Schedule, Featured and Most Popular. (only podcasts and downloaded programmes are available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/iplayer-radio/id560458506?mt=8
There is a new BBC radio/podcast app called BBC Sounds which may be replacing the BBC Radio iPlayer app in time, and it looks good - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bbc-sounds-radio-podcasts/id1380676511?mt=8
BBC News
This is another very good app from the BBC (although in my opinion the latest version is not nearly as good as the older version)- 'Get the latest breaking news from the BBC and our global network of journalists. Stories are arranged in categories including top stories, UK news, world news, politics, business, technology and sport.' Healthcare managers will be particularly interested in the Top stories in UK, the Health and the Politics sections. (Text but not videos or images available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bbc-news/id377382255?mt=8
Dragon Dictation
This is a clever way of converting what you say into the written word (particularly for anyone who has an older version of iOS). 'Dragon Dictation is an easy-to-use voice recognition application powered by Dragon® NaturallySpeaking® that allows you to easily speak and instantly see your text or email messages. In fact, it’s up to five (5) times faster than typing on the keyboard.'
(Fully available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/dragon-anywhere/id1024652126?mt=8
Dropbox
'Dropbox is the place for your photos, docs, videos, and other files. Files you keep in Dropbox are safely backed up and you can get to them from all your devices' (not available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8
Evernote
Evernote is an 'easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders--and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go' You can learn more about this at the Evernote website at http://www.evernote.com/about/getting_started/. (Partly available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8
Feedly
'A single place to easily read all the news you rely on to think, learn, and keep ahead..... With feedly, you can easily organize all your publications, blogs, YouTube channels in one place and consume and share more efficiently. No more zig zagging. All the content comes to you in one place, in a clean and easy to read format.'(only part available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/feedly-your-work-newsfeed/id396069556?mt=8
Google Chrome
You can use Chrome as a browser as well as Safari. It's amazing that you can dictate the subject you are searching if you don't have time to type it in! 'Search and navigate fast, directly from the same box. Choose from results that appear as you type....Open and quickly switch between an unlimited number of tabs'. (Not available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/chrome/id535886823?mt=8
Headspace
This app is a great introduction to meditation techniques - with all the benefits this can bring to both your work and your home life. 'Headspace is meditation made relevant to you. This app contains bite-sized techniques to help you sleep better, focus more and get some relief from a busy mind.'
The app offers free access to 'Take 10' - 10 daily, unique guided meditations. The meditations can even be downloaded to listen to offline.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/headspace-on-the-go/id493145008?mt=8 , https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app, and see also https://www.headspace.com/, with blogs at https://www.headspace.com/blog and 'Radio Headspace' podcasts at https://www.headspace.com/blog/category/7/podcast
Newspapers
Newspapers may charge for apps, but most newspapers' websites are free to access, and you may wish to save your favourites as icons as direct links on the home screen of your device if websites have been formatted for use on mobiles. Just save your favourite websites via the Safari web browser and tap 'add to home screen'. Also some newspapers and magazines are available free via the iTunes Newstand app - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/genre/ios-magazines-newspapers/id6021?mt=8
The Guardian mobile site is especially good (www.theguardian.com/uk?view=mobile).
The app is at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-guardian/id409128287?mt=8 and from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2018/may/15/the-guardian-app (Only part is available offline).
Radioplayer
This app has a huge number of UK Radio stations in one place.' All the BBC services, and hundreds more great British stations, in the simplest free radio app on the planet. Flick through our radio stations and see what's on, with a quick tap of your finger. Search for your favourites, and set them as presets. Discover new radio, in our 'Recommended' section. Listen to live streams of radio, or browse our catch-up programmes, including hundreds of shows from the BBC iPlayer.....We also feature community and student stations – so there's something for everyone.' (Not available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/radioplayer/id563906005?mt=8
Social Networking apps
There are apps for LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and other social media, and these are constantly being improved so check that you have the latest upgrade. Look out for the IHM on LinkedIn if you are a member, and why not join its discussion group, also on Twitter. (Possible to view recent previously viewed material offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/linkedin/id288429040?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/twitter/id333903271?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/facebook/id284882215?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pinterest/id429047995?mt=8
TED talks
'Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world. The official TED app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch presents talks from some of the world's most fascinating people: education radicals, tech geniuses, medical mavericks, business gurus and music legends. Find more than 1,400 TEDTalk videos (with more added each week) on the official TED app -- now for both iPad and iPhone. The entire library is at your fingertips to browse at any time, even when you’re not online.... Download full videos to your device and watch them when you’re offline. Listen to an on-demand playlist of TEDTalks audio at any time'.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ted/id376183339?mt=8
TuneIn
'TuneIn lets you listen to the world’s radio with music, sports, news, talk, and comedy streaming from every continent. Enjoy 70,000 live radio stations and 2 million podcasts, concerts or shows on your iPhone, iPad and iPod, all for free'. (Not available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/tunein-radio/id418987775?mt=8
YouTube
Millions of videos. You can see most popular, search or subscribe (Not available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/youtube/id544007664?mt=8
Wikipedia
Wikipedia has its own app formatted for mobiles, if you do not want to use a general search engine.
'Wikipedia is the free encyclopedia containing more than 20 million articles in 280 languages, and is the most comprehensive and widely used reference work humans have ever compiled. Save articles to read later or offline. Search articles nearby. Share articles. Full text search and more!' (Not available offline)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/wikipedia-mobile/id324715238?mt=8
The links in this section have been tested and should still work, but this is a fast-changing world. If you find that any of the links do not work, or if you discover any new ones, or have any suggestions for additional resources, please email john.hunt@gmx.co.uk
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