Being an entrepreneur requires you to have superhuman levels of productivity.
Owning your own business has so many duties and responsibilities, that can understandably cause immense stress and pressure. Dealing with these demands puts extra strain on a business owner and can result in a clouded judgment when it comes to making important decisions.
In business, there’s no time to deal with unknowns, yet there are so many. So, the best way to be more functional and productive is structure the time you have available to be uber-efficient.
How do you make the most of your time and how can you be more productive? In this post, we want to talk about time management and help you get a better idea of using your time more effectively. By using your time in the best way possible, you pave the way for productivity and in the end, better business.
Defining time management
You can define time management as one’s ability to effectively control the time you spend on tasks and this can be within or outside business hours. Setting goals and schedules are a good way to help improve time management.
Why is managing time so important?
“Time is of the essence”
This may be an age-old saying passed on from one generation to the next, but its essence true. You have limited time and for this reason, you have to make sure that you use it in the best way possible to complete goals for the day. Time is also money, and the more time is used the more something can cost your business. When this is the case, you may fear about staff members who waste time or aren’t motivated enough as it will cost your business more.
Do more with less
You may not have realized this, but as a business owner, you can do more even when you don’t have all you need to carry out your goal. What we mean by this is that once you master control over your limited time, you’re able to do more. In some way, you’re automatically more focused and dedicated to achieving this end goal before the time lapse.
Make clear, concise decisions
When we think about decisions, we know it’s crucial to choose wisely. If you’re constantly feeling pressured to decide, you could end up choosing badly. However, when you know how to manage your time, decision-making will be more effortless in some way, as if you’re seeing more clearly.
Managing time creates free time
Again, when you’re able to manage the little time you have to structure your plans and goals, it’s easy to free up some space in your busy schedule. Free time is necessary for you to catch your breath, unwind and more so, change your focus. With a change of focus comes a refreshed mind and ideas.
Improve your productivity with these simple tips
1. Focus your time
You’ve probably heard the word “time” many times in this post, but time equals productivity or idleness. You don’t want the latter, that’s why we’re so focused on helping you manage your time better each day. When you focus your time, you set aside certain “time frames” to accomplish certain tasks.
For example, checking emails for the first 20 minutes as soon as you step into the office. When you focus your time, you need to eliminate all other aspects and distractions and dedicate all that energy and focus on one thing. In this way, you also get to focus on everything, except everything in its own time.
2. Multitasking isn’t all that!
Sure as a millennial or any aged entrepreneur for that matter, you may think multitasking is the way to go. When you multitask, you achieve more right? While that may make sense in some way, it isn’t the “key” to achieving more.
Multitasking requires you to focus your energy on several aspects at a time and leaves little room for perfection. Instead, why not take the time to focus on one task at a time, as mentioned in the first point and then complete and excel at it. In this manner, there are fewer mistakes made which means better business.
3. No distractions allowed
It’s easy to become distracted as you go about your day. It’s important, however, to try as best possible to eliminate distraction as much as possible. In many cases, we feel tempted to check our social media for example but that will only lead to losing valuable time.
Instead, if it will help at all, simply leave your phone in the desk drawer or further out of reach during the times you need to focus on certain tasks. Again, when you allocate time to different tasks, then it’s easier to check social media channels during the allocated time.
4. Saying “no” may be more important than you think
While it may seem tempting to take on every project that your business encounters, you need to assess whether it is really worthwhile. Projects that take up time and impact your productivity have to benefit the company in some way, be it financial or by means of making an important connection.
Some projects may not benefit your business the way others do, and instead of exhausting your resources and time on these that won’t boost your business, just say “no”.
Focusing on clients and projects that will grow your business is more important than taking on every other “seemingly” opportunity.
5. Productivity hack: a simple “to do list”
This may not seem like something important but these are short-term goals for the day or month for that matter. So in the attempt to maximize your time and be productive, you need to create a to do-list and once you’ve completed tasks, simply cross them off.
Not only is this an achievement, but it also helps you get to the end goal. You can see how well you’re doing. For some people, adding a time frame in which to complete these tasks also helps.
6. Get extra help
While you may be qualified and experienced in a number of things, you may need to add additional help to maximize and achieve your goals. If you find that you are running all the social media marketing, plus day-to-day activities, you will be stretching yourself too thin.
You don’t have to take on all the responsibility and resort to multitasking which as we’ve already mentioned kills time. The extra hands will not only make work lighter, but it will also help your business to be more productive in the long run.
It is very difficult to make money when you aren’t marketing your business, and sometimes it’s best to rope in professional help.
7. Disconnect from work
It’s easy to become so wrapped up in work so much so, it literally consumes your mental and physical energy. One of the good things about disconnecting from work is the fact that you can take time to recharge. See it as a way to take a break even if just for the weekend.
With that said, check your work emails and work-related texts or instant messages when the new week begins. This takes discipline and dedication, especially if you feel you that your business is unstable without your physical influence and presence.
8. Reliable staff
If we go back to the point of hiring an excellent team, it’s important when doing so to make sure that the hired help is competent. If you have staff members that aren’t able to work well even when unsupervised, you’re always going to feel as if you need to be there to make sure everything works out.
Not only does this rob you from your free time but also from being able to focus your energies on your strong points.
Ensure that you delegate tasks to your staff to free up your valuable time.
9. Set reminders
Sure, you want to stay away from your phone if it’s going to distract you, but some people use it to their advantage. Smartphones are not only handy for making notes and setting up appointments but to help you remember tasks.
Setting reminders an hour before the event will alert you to start prepping for your meeting or whatever is planned for that time. In this way, you can be better prepared.
The takeaway
If you’re still doing some of the things that will only limit your time management and productivity, then it’s high time for a change. While it’s great to stay connected and engage your digital business channels, the truth is taking the time to “unplug” is very important. Unplugging from the distractive world around you is going to help you narrow down your focus and improve your vision for your business.
Free up your time and enhance your productivity.
Think about this, when there are so many things left in your way, it can become so distracting that you cannot stay ahead of your schedule. However, to “unplug” and “re-focus” means you’re going to put more energy into what you need doing and less on random aspects that don’t require immediate attention. At the end of the day, you can lead your team with the knowledge and experience you’ve acquired and driven the progress throughout all channels.
When the leadership of a business is manages time and productivity, that same energy rubs off on the other staff members. This can only be a great thing for your business as it improves the way things work whilst creating time efficiency.
The more efficiently you manage your time and implement streamlined processes, the quicker your business will grow.
