“Effektiv Nu can help you free up time with modest means.”
After the training, I have gained a completely different way of thinking!
Natalie Bagger has, since 2016, been running the accountancy firm Elite redovisning together with Jasmine Edenvall. In 2022, Natalie and her colleagues attended the Work Smarter training course. In an interview with Effektiv Nu, Natalie talks about her experience of the training and the effect it had on both herself and her colleagues, as well as how it resulted in increased customer satisfaction.
Can you tell us a little bit more about who you are?
“Elite redovisning is an accounting firm that provides accounting services, declaration services ,consulting in bookkeeping and accounting. The firm is located on Stora Essingen in Stockholm. Today we are eight consultants and are a company that is constantly growing, both when it comes to the customer base and the number of consultants. We promote the local area and have some customers nearby on Kungsholmen, but also in other parts of Sweden.”
“We are a digital accounting firm and require our clients to submit their accounting material to us digitally. This means that our customers never have to come in to us with their receipts and documentation, which the vast majority of people today prefer. Most things can be sent the digital way.”
How did you get in touch with Effektiv Nu?
“It was through an old employee who previously worked at Elite redovisning who recommended Effektiv Nu. She had taken the Work Smarter training course and because she knew who we were and how we worked, she knew that this course would also suit us.”
What were the challenges before the training? Why did the training feel relevant to you?
“As we are a growing company, but also work in an industry which is growing in the digital sphere, we encounter challenges all the time. The biggest challenge before the training was the email inbox, it was a big stress factor. We receive an incredible amount of emails from our clients every day, and a challenge was how to handle them in a good way. Another challenge was the digital transition after covid-19, which meant that we had to quickly get into, for example, Teams, which is a platform we still use. At that time, we knew nothing, and it was a challenge to learn how the platform works, and how to use it correctly as a complete beginner. Together with Effektiv Nu, we now have developed and learned just that at a fairy relaxed pace.”
“It’s really fun that there are always more things to learn, and it’s incredible what functions there are in Microsoft 365. All the tips and advice we received during the training can be applied to both your professional and personal life. After the training, I have gained a completely different way of thinking. Microsoft 365 was the tool that we started from, but for me, the most important thing has been the new way of thinking.”
How was your experience of the training?
“We chose to attend the Work Smarter 1.5 day training course. It was largely a walkthrough in Outlook, and then we chose to go through Teams in part two. It was a content-rich training with a lot of information to absorb, but Effektiv Nu had a pedagogical structure and our time management consultant Linn made sure that we all understood, despite different levels of experience. I also appreciated that it challenged us participants to review the content afterwards and practice what we learned, together with a colleague. We are very happy with the content and I learned a lot in the little time we had.”
Have you used the coaching that is included after completed training?
“We have used the support that is included, and it has been valuable to be able to ask about something that you did not understand afterwards, or to get extra help with the challenges that felt the most difficult. In addition, it was valuable when we changed computers to be able to get a quick walkthrough of the settings.”
What effects have you seen from the training with Effektiv Nu?
“The biggest effect is that both short-term and long-term stress at work has been able to decrease, as we have taken control of the email and planning in the calendar. Another effect is that the recipient feels satisfied because we respond to emails faster, as we learned to follow up with people who email and communicate when they can expect a response. In the past, I could hold back on answering certain emails as they felt heavy and time-consuming, but today I respond immediately to show that I see the person and have read the message, and will follow up when I have the opportunity. I then create a task that I will follow up within a certain date. It is really something that has made a big difference for me, and increased customer satisfaction towards my customers.”
How are you at Elite redovisning moving forward after the training?
“We chose to focus on Outlook and Teams in the first instance, and then added training in OneNote afterwards. Going forward, I think that something new will surely appear. There are always new updates in technology and there will definitely be a need for skills development in the future.”
“It is also good to follow up the training, rehearse and remind ourselves at regular intervals. To set aside time and go through it with a colleague or read through the training material that we received from Effektiv Nu after the training. We have met our time management consultant Linn a couple of times after our training course, in slightly different contexts. Among other things, I have listened to her when she lectured in front of a larger group. Even though I already knew a lot because I had already completed the training, it was great to have a little repetition.”
“Then, of course, we also want new employees to be able to attend the training, and in this way our collaboration with Effektiv Nu will continue as long as we recruit new staff.”
Can you recommend the Work Smarter training course to other companies?
“I recommend Effekiv Nu’s training courses to everyone out there, it changes the whole way of working and reduces stress. We are constantly connected and Effektiv Nu can help you free up time with modest means.”
What would you like to say to someone who is feeling a little unsure about whether this course is for them?
“The Work Smarter training course is for everyone, regardless of whether you have a large or small inflow of emails. As I said, we are all constantly connected and receive notifications, especially on our mobile phones, all the time. This training is not just about making your work more efficient, it’s about personal development. I think a training in Work Smarter can help everyone in some way, regardless of what challenges you have.”
“It is possible to test the training on a smaller scale, for example, start with a one-hour lecture. That hour alone with make a difference and will leave you wanting to learn more.”