When running a business (regardless of your chosen industry), time = money. This means that you must ensure you’re making every minute count if you want to succeed, which is sometimes easier said than done if your to-do list seems miles long.
However, there are plenty of ways to begin to make better use of your time. Such as:
Be prepared for when things go wrong.
The period in which you’ll waste the most time during your business is when you have to solve a problem but don’t have the tools at your disposal to resolve it quickly. As a result, having clear strategies in place for these instances can save you time, money and stress. Instead of losing out on income because a piece of equipment in your production line broke down and you couldn’t find a spare part, shop online for spare parts ahead of time. For example, if you run a beverage company, you should ensure you have a spare level sensor.
Embrace honesty
Honesty is the best policy when running a business – whether you’re dealing with clients, investors, suppliers or employees. Telling lies could lead to bad reviews and lawsuits. It is better to come clean when you make mistakes and reassure people by striving to find a solution. The likes of Caitlin Brodie stress that honesty is particularly important to leadership as it builds trust within your team.
Invest in training opportunities.
Employee training and development are also essential for those looking to maximise their time in the workplace. This is due to the simple fact that the more qualified your team, the easier they’ll find their daily workload. As such, they’ll be able to carry out tasks to a much higher standard and within a quicker timeframe.
Listen to your employees.
As an employer, it’s only natural to want to push your employees to work better, smarter or more efficiently. However, if you’ve noticed a drop in productivity, you must figure out the cause instead of becoming confrontational. For example, are employees taking longer to complete tasks because your equipment is outdated? Or are they feeling a little burned out? By asking these questions, you’ll be able to put plans in place that simultaneously improve employee satisfaction and productivity rates. If burnout is the issue, try to think of ways you can reduce it. For example, could you give your team better control over the time by allowing them to work from home?
Keep to a schedule.
Putting together a weekly or daily schedule is a great way to manage your time as a business owner while also ensuring that you’re able to meet any approaching deadlines with ease. While you may prefer to simply deal with tasks as they come in, being aware of which are time-sensitive and dealing with them first reduces error and means that you will never have to rush a project to completion at the last minute.
Understand the importance of taking a break.
Taking a break may seem counter-productive when you’re tyring to make better use of your time, but you’d be surprised about how much you can benefit from giving yourself a little time off. Instead of having lunch from your desk while working, give yourself a proper break and go outside if possible. This will allow you to clear your mind, refresh your senses and means that when you go to sit at your desk again, you’ll feel ready and raring to go!
Be safe out there.
Stanley
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