More productivity at work is everyone’s goal, but it isn’t always attainable. It requires everyone in the process to manage their time well. Here are six ideas small businesses can practice to increase day-to-day productivity.
Set Deadlines
Reasonable stress levels are a great motivator. Setting realistic deadlines helps people focus on the task at hand. Even for open-ended projects, a deadline for each phase will help get it done. People with a deadline watch the clock knowing they don’t have much time to waste.
Stop Multitasking
People often make the mistake of assuming that it looks and feels great to be handling a dozen projects at once. But is it really more efficient than addressing problems one at a time? Probably not. Sometimes we’re overwhelmed with requests, but prioritizing and focusing attention on each task will likely end up with less total time spent and better results.
Give Up on Perfection
It’s not unusual for those caught up in improving efficiency to shoot for the perfect process or technology. But nothing is ever perfect, and constant changes in an effort to achieve it can hurt more than help. Do each task to the best of your ability, and focus not on perfection, but on steady improvement.
Don’t be Reactive
If phone and email dictates how you spend your time, you’re probably addressing everyone else’s problems before your own. Being the go-to person often means you’re being taken advantage of by people who want you to share their burden. Set aside time for answering emails every few hours while you focus on your own projects, and unless it’s an emergency, it’s okay to say no once in a while.
Nix that Meeting
We always book meetings, send a round of invites, and inevitably see people sitting around the table tight-lipped and fidgeting. Ask yourself whether a formal meeting is really necessary. Distributing a form via email asking for feedback on ideas can accomplish just as much and take less time for all concerned.
Stop Multitasking
People often make the mistake of assuming that it looks and feels great to be handling a dozen projects at once. But is it really more efficient than addressing problems one at a time? Probably not. Sometimes we’re overwhelmed with requests, but prioritizing and focusing attention on each task will likely end up with less total time spent and better results.
A task that can take up a lot of your focus is business to client interaction. Implementing a business instant messaging software saves time for other important tasks like addressing your client’s grievances in a suitable manner. This way, instead of spending twenty minutes on the phone, you can meet your customers’ needs digitally.
Take Breaks
That may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true. Working straight through for hours on end actually decreases concentration and performance. But taking a break every few hours will clear you head and give you a chance to re-energize. That way you’re more productive over the long haul.
There are only so many hours in the day, and time is critical in every business. Looking for better time management should become a habit.
