Wish you could find more hours in the day? Try these simple tips to get more done.
- Organize your obligations. It’s easy to forget appointments and deadlines when you have them written down in five different places. Use one system to organize all crucial dates. Some entrepreneurs prefer online tools. These are great because they let others on your team see your commitments at a glance. Others prefer paper calendaring systems. The key is to figure out what works for you and stick with it.
- Be realistic about time. Business owners typically underestimate how long things will take. If your days are scheduled down to the minute, any interruption will throw you off track. A good rule of thumb is to build in at least two unscheduled hours per work day. That gives you some “wiggle room” if a meeting runs long, a project takes more time than expected, or a crisis arises.
- Set priorities. Some things are urgent, some are important; few are both. As a business owner, it’s easy to spend your whole day being reactive-answering e-mails or putting out fires-and ignore the truly important tasks of growing your business. Vow to spend at least part of each day doing something that will grow your business in the long run. Make this the most important item on your to-do list. Even if you do nothing else that day, you’ll have accomplished something of value.
- Delegate. When your business first started, you were chief cook and bottle-washer. As your business grows, you may find it hard to let go of that role. You must learn to delegate if your business is to thrive and grow. Start simple by delegating duties you don’t enjoy or aren’t particularly good at. Delegating frees up your time to handle the parts of your business you like best. Bonus: It builds your staff’s skills-and that makes your whole business more productive.
- Take breaks. Powering through an endless to-do list isn’t the most productive use of your time. Figure out what recharges you-whether it’s a brisk walk around the office park, some “desk yoga,” or 10 minutes to sit and sip a cup of tea-and make time to do it regularly. You’ll go back to the task at hand with renewed energy and creativity.
David Gass
Founder, Business Credit Services, Inc.
Earn Expert Advisor
Tags: Add new tag, business growth, delegate, organization, productivity, setting priorities