How many times have you heard someone say ‘Where does the day go!’. We are all busy people but are we busy doing the right things or are we busy just being busy?
Irrespective of the size of your business one thing that all business owners have in common: there never seems to be enough time in the day. With so much to do and so very little time, we could all do with a quick lesson on efficiency and productivity
We all have the same 24 hours in the day – how come some people seem to get more out of the day than others. Whatever you do, you cannot save time but you can use it better. Here are some time-saving tips for small businesses:
- Always have a To-Do list and prioritise it.
You have heard it before: By failing to plan, you are planning to fail. So why would you start your day without a plan and that plan should come in form of a To-Do list. In fact, better still never end the previous day without a plan of action for the following day – at least then when you wake up and get to your desk you know exactly what you need to focus on. But it does not stop there, your To-Do list needs to be prioritised, starting with the jobs you hate to do first then the rest of the tasks will be a breeze. Prioritizing can be difficult when you’re being pulled in a million different directions. Hold yourself accountable by reminding yourself what your priorities are then you will get back on track.
- Know thyself
The ancient Greek aphorism ‘Know thyself’ inscribed at Delphi could not be more apt some 21 centuries later but it is important to recognise your personal body clock and energy levels. Some people are more productive in the morning, others late into the evening – whatever type of person you are, identify when your peak energy levels are and plan your schedule accordingly. For example, if you are a morning person then plan all important tasks and projects early in the day reserving the afternoons for mundane type tasks like listening to voice mails, following up to emails etc.
- Create incentives to complete tasks and rest times
An interesting productivity trick I learnt recently is the Pomodoro technique (no it has nothing to do with cooking!) The idea behind the technique is to work in blocks of time, typically 25 minutes long (called Pomodoro Sessions), followed by a 5-minute break. Each Pomodoro Session should demand your full attention on one task, every break requires you to step away from your work to rest. The result is greatly improved productivity during focused work sessions, that can be maintained through the day effectively managing distractions and taking regular breaks. The benefits of the technique are increased productivity, improved quality of work, greater focus and time management.
- Utilize technology
Technology is a beautiful thing that can help take your business to new heights. The Huffington Post recommends taking advantage of the following tech trends:
- Customer relationship management (CRM) software
- Business intelligence tools
- Smart inventory management
These tools will help your business evolve, while you take care of sales and growth.
- Ask for help
As a small business owner, you simply cannot do everything by yourself. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help and recommendations from your suppliers — especially if it means saving time and getting more done in the day. Learn from their experiences and what does or does not work for them. Bu don’t distracted by all the shiny tools out there or otherwise you will end up less productive than what you set out to do in the first place,
One area that you could need help in is cash flow management – why not speak with Celtic Invoice Discounting and we can help you to release your cash currently tied up in unpaid invoices and save you a whole lot of wasted time and worry. And what will you do with all your extra time and money? Take advantage of supplier discounts, pay suppliers and think about expanding your business!
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Celtic ID will advise you on whether Invoice Discounting will be right for your business or not. We will speak to you in plain English and give you all the facts you need to make a decision. Why not call us on 01 230 0866 for a confidential conversation.
