One Cool Feature: A Roundup of Features From Our Favorite Productivity Tools You Don't Know About

For the builders, the brainstormers, and the “wait, there’s a shortcut for that?” crowd.

By the time you finish this sentence, another productivity tool just launched on Product Hunt. Everyday professionals are drowning in productivity platforms, each promising to make your day 43% more efficient, but it’s really not about the platform you choose, but how you use it. Buried inside those dashboards, kanban boards, and notion blocks are small-but-mighty features that can genuinely change how you work, and yes, improve your productivity. 

Because every minute counts when building something new, we went spelunking through the tools startup teams love: Miro, Notion, ClickUp, and more, and surfaced one unsung feature from each that deserves a standing ovation.  These lesser-known tricks will save you time, spark creativity, and keep your team vibing. Let’s dive into a roundup of secret weapons from your favorite tools that’ll make you say, “Why didn’t I know about this sooner?”

Miro: Smart Diagramming for Instant Flowcharts

Miro’s whiteboard is a playground for ideas, but have you tried Smart Diagramming? This nifty feature auto-generates flowcharts or mind maps from text inputs, turning your chaotic notes into polished visuals faster than you can say “pitch deck.” It’s like having a design assistant who doesn’t need coffee breaks.

How to Use It: Open a Miro board, click the “Shapes” tool, and select “Smart Diagramming.” Paste a list or type out ideas in a structured format (like bullet points). Miro’s AI will transform them into a flowchart or mind map, which you can tweak for style. Use it to map user flows or org charts in seconds.

Why It’s Cool: Founders can whip up professional diagrams for investor decks or team planning without wrestling with clunky design tools.

ClickUp: Goal Tracking with Dynamic Progress Bars

ClickUp’s task management is robust, but its Goal Tracking feature with dynamic progress bars is a secret sauce for staying focused. Set team or company goals, link them to tasks, and watch progress bars fill as tasks get done. It’s like a motivational video game for your startup.

How to Use It: In ClickUp, go to the “Goals” tab and create a goal (e.g., “Close 10 deals”). Link it to tasks or lists, and choose a progress metric (like percentage complete). As your team checks off tasks, the progress bar updates in real time.

Why It’s Cool: Founders get a visual pulse on big-picture objectives, keeping everyone motivated and aligned without micromanaging.

Notion: Synced Blocks for Cross-Page Magic

Notion’s your all-in-one hub which includes docs and databases, but Synced Blocks are the unsung heroes of team alignment. Create a block (like a to-do list or meeting notes) and sync it across multiple pages, so updates in one spot reflect everywhere. No more copy-pasting updates across your workspace!

How to Use It: Highlight a block in Notion, click the six-dot menu, and select “Create Synced Block.” Copy the block to other pages (like team dashboards or project hubs). Edit it anywhere, and all instances update instantly. Great for shared OKRs or company-wide announcements.

Why It’s Cool: It keeps everyone on the same page, literally, while saving founders from the chaos of mismatched info across teams.

Trello: Butler’s Card Templates for Repeatable Wins

Trello’s boards keep tasks tidy, but Butler’s Card Templates are a sneaky shortcut for repetitive processes. Create a pre-filled card with checklists, labels, or due dates, and use it to instantly spawn new tasks. Think of it as cloning your best workflows with a single click.

How to Use It: Enable the Butler Power-Up, then create a card with your ideal setup (e.g., a “Customer Onboarding” checklist). Save it as a template via Butler’s “Card Templates” option. When you need a new task, drag the template onto your board, and boom—ready to go.

Why It’s Cool: Founders can standardize processes like hiring or content pipelines, saving brainpower for big-picture strategy.

Slack: Huddles with Screen Sharing for Quick Collabs

Slack’s your team’s chat hub, but Huddles with Screen Sharing is a low-key gem for spontaneous collaboration. Start a quick audio call (Huddle) and share your screen without jumping to Zoom. It’s perfect for impromptu reviews or pair programming sessions.

How to Use It: In a Slack channel or DM, click the “Huddle” button (headphones icon). Once the Huddle starts, hit the “Share Screen” option to show your work. Invite team members to join for a quick sync-up, no meeting links required.

Why It’s Cool: Founders can ditch bloated meeting tools and solve problems on the fly, keeping momentum high.

These aren’t just fancy add-ons, they’re time-saving, stress-busting superpowers. For founders juggling a million tasks, tools like Miro, Notion, Trello, Slack, and ClickUp are your lifeline. These hidden features let you work smarter, not harder, so you can focus on scaling your startup and dazzling investors. So, go poke around in your tools, unearth these gems, and watch your productivity soar. Who knew your favorite apps had so much more to offer?