Since you're
reading this article then I assume that you have a small business or planning
to start one. After setting up your business you will need to increase your productivity
in order to stand out the competition.
Your success in that is significantly
dependent on how best you can approach prioritization, time management and staying
focused. It takes time, research, motivation, and a plan. And sometimes,
getting that little bit of motivation to sit down and be productive can be
challenging.
Increasing
your productivity and time management may be tough but there're some tips that
will help you in achieving the level of productivity you seek. Diving into Google,
reading several articles and following the footsteps of experts in this field made
me figure out a blueprint that will significantly made your business thrive.
I know
that every industry is unique in its characteristics but these tips are general
and really applicable to a vast majority of businesses.
5 tips to
increase your business productivity:
1) Plan your
day.
Make a
plan and stick to it as best as you can. Honestly there is no other way that
you know how much ground you covered for the day. Of course, things may arise
that derail you, but the plan will help you get back on track. Start by daily
plans and monitor your success in executing your to-do list. After that, plan
for your week and your whole month. What's your plan?
2) Block out
distractions.
I work
with hilariously awesome people and there's always a story, Facebook post or
YouTube video to discuss. Before I know it, I'm sucked in and have lost 10
minutes of productivity. According to a research from the University of
California, Irvine, a typical office worker gets only 11 minutes between each
interruption, while it takes an average of 25 minutes to return to the original
task after an interruption. Time is money and your business can't afford
distracted employees.
There're
several methods that can help you to avoid distractions. Work in a quiet room,
wear your headphones and listen to slow music and schedule with your employees
and co-workers a break time to relax and have fun. What methods help you concentrate
amid distractions?
3)
Overcome task paralysis.
Do you
ever feel like you have so many little tasks in front of you that they are
keeping you from the one big thing you want to accomplish? The small things
make me feel overwhelmed to the point that I make no progress and look back at
my day and feel like I didn't get anything done.
Instead,
prioritize chunks of your day for important work when you feel most alert and
productive, and limit the amount of time for busy work. How will you jumpstart
that big project and minimize busy work?
4)
Perfectionism leads to procrastination.
The
Facebook company motto is "doing is better than perfect". This is
definitely correct. The desire for the perfect idea, the perfect plan, etc. is
unrealistic and leads to procrastination. Get started with your plan, it's okay
to make mistakes, you will eventually figure you the best way to do it and improvements
will come along the way. Is your perfectionist streak getting in your way?
5) Ask for
help.
Let's
face it, in today's world there is no one man show anymore. I'm sure that you're
a really great business owner, but some of the work you may be holding on to
should be handled by someone else to free up your time. Or sometimes, work
piles up and you have a wonderful co-worker that would be willing to give you a
hand. Make use of other people around you. You'll be surprised how it fosters
trust and camaraderie among a team that leans on each other for support. Who on
your team can you ask for help?
After
applying the above mentioned tips I encourage you to do your own research on
this topic. You will find tons of great resources and relevant data that will
enable you to tweak these practices according to your industry. If you need an
extra little nudge in the productivity department, be sure to check out these
resources as well:
- Lifehack – Productivity
- 26 Time Management Hacks I Wish I'd Known At 20
- Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners
What other tricks do you use in your small business to make sure you
stay productive and on top of your day? Share with us your experience and knowledge;
we would love to hear from you.
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