With over two billion active users, Google Workspace has certainly made a name for itself. Formerly known as G Suite, the cloud-based productivity and collaboration solution is used by more than six million businesses, with more hopping on board every day.
Is yours one of them?
Being asked to learn new technology or software is always stressful. Transitioning from what you’ve always used to something you’ve never worked with before can be tough — but without change, where would we be?
Whether your office is making the switch to Google Workspace or you just want to add it to your skillset, here’s what you need to know.
What is Google Workspace?
Google Workspace is a collaboration and productivity suite, similar to Microsoft 365, that allows you to create and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, manage your email, and attend virtual meetings. It’s browser-based, which means everything is done directly from your web browser.
Some of Google Workspace’s main features include:
- Gmail
- Google Drive (cloud-storage)
- Google Docs (word processing app)
- Google Sheets (spreadsheets)
- Google Slides (slideshows and presentations)
- Google Meet (video conferencing)
- Google Calendar
- Google Keep (note-taking app)
The good news is that if you’re already a Gmail user, you already have access to all these apps. All that’s left is to learn how to use them!
Getting Started With Google Workspace
If you have a Gmail account, just open Gmail in a browser window, sign in, and navigate to the Google Apps button on the top righthand side of your screen. (If you don’t have a Gmail account, it’s free to create one!) Once you click the apps button, it will display all your available apps, as well as a link to the Workspace Marketplace where you can browse for new ones.
Most of the apps are incredibly user-friendly, but if you need help getting started, Google has you covered with tons of guides that include cheat sheets, best practices, and more.
- Start with the Guides for New Users. This page walks you through everything from the initial switch to what to do on the first day, the first week, and beyond.
- Next, explore the Google Workspace Learning Center which also includes comprehensive onboarding guides, productivity tips, hybrid workplace tips, business tutorials, and direct links to product help centers.
- Finally, identify a personal or work project where you can begin using the Google apps. This will help you learn the apps and get comfortable with how they work.
The Innovative Admin™ never stops learning, growing, or exploring – especially when it comes to technology! Even if you’re not using Google Workspace at the office now, you might be in the future. By learning how to use and leverage the various apps in the productivity and collaboration suite now, you can set yourself up for future success!
© 2023 Julie Perrine International, LLC
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Julie Perrine, CAP-OM, is the founder and CEO of All Things Admin, providing training, mentoring and resources for administrative professionals worldwide. Julie applies her administrative expertise and passion for lifelong learning to serving as an enthusiastic mentor, speaker and author who educates admins around the world on how to be more effective every day. Learn more about Julie’s books — The Innovative Admin: Unleash the Power of Innovation in Your Administrative Career and The Organized Admin: Leverage Your Unique Organizing Style to Create Systems, Reduce Overwhelm, and Increase Productivity, and Become a Procedures Pro: The Admin’s Guide to Developing Effective Office Systems and Procedures.
