Which tracker mode should you use? Silent, Visible, or Both

When using WebWork Tracker, selecting the appropriate tracking mode can significantly impact your team’s workflow and overall productivity. WebWork provides three distinct tracking modes—Visible, Silent, and Visible & Silent—each designed to meet different workplace needs and scenarios. Let's explore each mode in detail and clarify when to best utilize them.

To choose or change your workspace's tracker mode, navigate to Settings > Tracker > General. Here, you can easily select the mode that best fits your team's needs.

1. Visible Mode

What is Visible Mode?

Visible mode actively involves users in the tracking process. Users clearly see the tracker running, displaying information such as tracked time, tasks being worked on, and productivity indicators. The users can start and stop the tracker (if they have permission) as well as take breaks.

When to Use Visible Mode:

• Transparency and Trust Building: When transparency is paramount, visible mode reinforces trust between management and team members by clearly displaying monitoring activity.

• Self-Management: Visible mode is perfect for encouraging employees to stay mindful of their productivity and manage their time independently.

• Project Management: Ideal for teams collaborating on tasks requiring constant tracking updates for seamless coordination.

2. Silent Mode

What is Silent Mode?

Silent mode tracks user activity discreetly in the background without displaying the tracker interface to employees. Team members won’t see the tracker running, but their activity and time will still be recorded. Users won’t be able to interact with the silent tracker as it will be hidden.

When to Use Silent Mode:

• Minimizing Distractions: Ideal for tasks that require deep concentration without the distraction of monitoring tools visible on screen.

• Trust-Based Remote Work: Suited for teams where monitoring needs to be less intrusive and managers prefer evaluating productivity discreetly.

• Performance Auditing: Useful for occasionally auditing team productivity without influencing natural employee behavior.

3. Visible & Silent Mode

What is Visible & Silent Mode?

This hybrid mode allows specific users within the same workspace to utilize the visible tracker, while others use the silent tracker. It provides flexibility to assign monitoring visibility based on individual responsibilities and preferences.

When to Use Visible & Silent Mode:

• Custom Monitoring Needs: Ideal for workspaces requiring different monitoring levels for different users, allowing tailored tracking experiences.

• Flexible Oversight: Suitable for environments where certain team members prefer or require visible tracking, while others benefit from discreet, distraction-free monitoring.

• Adaptable Transparency: This mode balances transparency and discretion by allowing customization of tracking visibility based on user-specific requirements.

Conclusion

Selecting the appropriate WebWork Tracker mode depends on your organizational culture, the nature of your team’s tasks, and your productivity monitoring goals. Understanding the nuances and benefits of Visible, Silent, and Visible & Silent modes allows you to optimize productivity and create an environment tailored specifically to your team’s needs.