As a small business owner/entrepreneur, you undoubtedly juggle a lot of tasks on a daily basis. From managing finances, promoting products/services and making sure your customers are happy – it can feel like there will never be enough time in the day to get everything done!
It is also undeniable that it requires an upfront investment of time and energy [along with some trial and error] to find the right formula of techniques, tools, and systems to improve your overall productivity. But it is possible to make running your business easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable. Here are 5 fundamentals to consider that have the potential to significantly increase productivity and streamline processes within your small business. Dig into these tips and techniques and start creating your blueprint for PEAK performance!
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead isn’t just for the proactive; it’s for everyone who wants to increase their productivity and achieve their goals. One way to go about it is to establish a quarterly plan, which sets objectives and milestones for the next three months. This can be broken down further into monthly goals and weekly deliverables so that your progress can be monitored with precision. Writing down your plans makes them more concrete, which means there’s less of an excuse not to stick to them, thus increasing productivity and making goal achievement far more likely!
Prioritize Daily
Prioritizing daily may be a new habit for you that needs to be exercised – like a muscle that needs to be strengthened. Identifying a “Daily Big 3” at the start of each work day can maximize your return on investment (ROI) in the work that you do.
To decide which three tasks should go on your “Daily Big 3” list, it’s important to distinguish between what is important versus what is urgent. The most important tasks typically have the biggest impact on your life, yet these are often the tasks that get put on the back burner to the “urgent fires.” Once you can stay committed to completing your Daily Big 3 most days, you will begin to more consistently use the limited amount of time you have more productively and strengthen that prioritization “muscle,” leading to maximum results.
Delegate Often
Admit it- no one can do a task as well as you 🙂 That is one of the universal truths amongst entrepreneurs, right? All kidding aside, delegating to others is vital if you are planning to grow your business and create sustainable success. You can significantly increase your own productivity, as well as your team members’ productivity levels, by focusing more of your time and energy on what you excel at, and allowing others to utilize their unique zones of genius.
Delegation creates a strong culture of collaboration within the workplace. Without proper delegation, valuable time is lost by individuals completing tasks outside of their skill level and areas of strength. Clearly defining (and documenting) the roles and responsibilities of each team member (or outside resources) creates more efficiency and higher productivity across the entire organization.
Review & Revise
It’s all too easy to get complacent with the way you are working and to stick with the same old processes, for fear of rocking the boat. But, you owe it to yourself to review and revise your business processes periodically and identify opportunities for improvement.
Rather than operating with the mindset of “we’ve always done it this way,” consider becoming more curious about ways you can simplify operations, reduce inefficiencies and increase productivity. Gathering feedback from employees is a great way to understand where process improvements can be made. Find opportunities to take a step back, look at current habits, routines, and systems, and determine what revisions will keep you, your company and your product/services relevant in today’s competitive market.
Celebrate Progress & Setbacks
Time for a #truthbomb: Progress sometimes feels like an uphill battle, and setbacks are 100% guaranteed in the journey of starting, running, and growing a business. Acknowledging progress and setbacks alike is key in maintaining a growth mindset and achieving productivity.
Celebrate the lessons you have already learned, accept that there are more lessons yet to be earned, and trust that both the highs and the lows are incremental steps toward achieving your goals. This type of acknowledgement provides a sense of fulfillment that can drive further productivity regardless of the outcome, creating an ongoing cycle of growth.
There is no “perfect combination” of productivity tips and techniques that will lead to successful results for everyone. However, beginning with these fundamentals is a great place to start as you create your own blueprint for PEAK productivity. As for the ideal place and time to start, I’ll refer to the late, great Zig Ziglar who said, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great!”
Let me know when you are ready to START! I’d be happy to help you create your unique blueprint for PEAK productivity this year.
Recent Comments