Get organised

A little bit of time invested now in developing efficient systems for your business will save you a lot of time in the long run. Whether it’s time spent setting up a computerised accounting system, or implementing a physical or virtual filing system so that you don’t waste time looking for paperwork or documents, setting up systems and getting organised can save you a lot of money.

If your time tracking indicates you spend a lot of time answering basic sales questions, you could, for example, save time by writing up some template responses that you (or an employee) could personalise in response to queries. Similarly, adding an FAQs page to your website could help to free up more of your time. Customer relationship management software can also save a lot of time and effort.

If you’re no longer so busy running from one problem to the next in your business, you’ll probably be able to identify a number of ways you can work smarter, rather than harder – and find ways to increase staff productivity too.

Draw up a prioritised ‘to do’ list

It’s easy to get sucked into the problem of the day – or the problem of the hour, in some businesses. This is where that ‘to do’ list can help. A simple list of the tasks you need or hope to accomplish, together with a deadline, will help to keep you focused.

Ranking tasks in order of priority will help to ensure the most important tasks get done by deadline and jobs don’t fall off your radar. Ticking items off your ‘to do’ list can be surprisingly motivating, too.

Work to your personal productive times

It makes sense to work when you work best. We all have different cycles and preferences. If you’re a morning person and full of oomph and drive at the crack of dawn, put this time aside to tackle those big projects. Schedule more routine things or less creative tasks for the afternoon when you’re in your less productive cycle. Avoid routine production planning meetings during your most productive times.

If you’re not a morning person, and don’t really reach your form until after your second cup of coffee, get those routine tasks out of the way first thing in the morning and then tackle the big projects, or schedule important meetings for when you’ll be able to give it your very best.

Get the tools or help you need

If you expect your staff to work effectively and efficiently, you’ll need to provide them with the right tools to do the job. The same applies to you as the business owner, too. You can’t work efficiently if you don’t have the tools or skills (whether training or personnel) to do the job.

This does not give you carte blanche to dash out to buy the latest iPad if you don’t really need it. However, it does mean you shouldn’t limp along wasting hours to do a job, when an investment in technology would mean you’d be able to be far more productive.

It’s usually false economy trying to make do with outdated technology. If you’re not sure about whether to invest in tools, software, training or staff, do a quick calculation of how much time it will save you and compare this with how much it will cost. Assuming your cash flow can accommodate the purchase, this cost-benefit analysis will quickly tell you whether investing in the tools or help you need is a financially sound decision for your business.