7 Time Management Tips for Business Owners
You Can Control Your Time
1. - Focus on what you do best. - Whether you are a one-person shop or you have employees, it’s important to focus on the things only you can do and delegate the rest. If you’re like me, the first thing that may come to mind is, “Oh my God! I can’t afford it!” Take a step back and run the numbers. How much is your time worth? Put a dollar figure on it.
Then look at your time sheets (you do keep track of your time, right?) and see how much time you spend on these tasks. Chances are excellent you’ll learn what I did: That I couldn’t afford not to do it. The extra time I spent, struggling to do things I wasn’t good at, was costing me more in lost business than what I paid for something to do these tasks for me.
2. - Set priorities. - A to-do list which is crucial is not enough. Use the list to establish the most important things you want to accomplish. Notice I said “important,” not “urgent.” If you have an important task that is also urgent, obviously it should be A1 on your list. But if you are managing your time well, and focusing on what’s important, you will soon discover that you have fewer urgent things to attend to. And the urgent items that do come up will be easier to handle because you’ve got everything else covered.
3. - Batch routine activities. - Understand this: Every time you answer an unexpected phone call, every time you open your email, every time someone drops by your office unannounced, you are letting other people set your priorities. Is that how you want to run your business? Or even your life? Instead, batch all your related, routine tasks several times a day. Check your email three times a day once in the morning after you have handled your top priorities for the day, once right after lunch and once about an hour before close of business. And shut it off in between.
4. - Look a week out. - At the beginning of every week (or the end of it, whichever works best for you), write down what you need to accomplish during the week, then break it down into daily tasks. Yes, write it. On paper. Computers are great, but writing things down help reinforce the message you’re giving to your brain.
5. - Use your peak-energy time. - When is your best time? For many, it’s first thing in the morning. Others are late-starters and do their best work in the late afternoon or evening. Plan your most demanding tasks for those times, and make sure your team members know in advance that you will be unavailable.
6. - Cut distractions. - Check your environment to see if there’s anything that keeps you from using your time most effectively. Do you have enough light in your office? Are your supplies plentiful and at hand? Is your workspace well organized? Can you find whatever you need, when you need it? Take care of these things before you begin your day.
7. - Include room for the unexpected. - One of the most surprising things about being well-organized and efficient is that it gives you space to be spontaneous. Because you’re getting things done, when something arises at the last minute good or bad you’ll be able to deal with it without having a nervous breakdown.
Read the full article at: http://www.getrealaboutbusiness.com/7-time-management-tips-business-owners/
Patty Block, President and Founder of The Block Group, established her company to advocate for women-owned businesses, helping them position their companies for strategic growth. Charting the course for impactful, sustainable, profitable businesses, the beacon is control: of your strategic direction, your money, your time, your staffing, and your ability to bring in business. The Block Group brings together the people, resources and ideas that build results.
Business consulting for women entrepreneurs in Houston.
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