There are tons of small business hacks available today… from start-ups, joint ventures, marketing, and even generating passive income. Yet the shared thread at the heart of almost all every small business hack is that of enhancing productivity; getting things done in the most efficient way possible.
Here are six productivity tips guaranteed to help you on your journey to growing your business.
EAT THAT FROG
World renowned expert on productivity, Brian Tracy, encourages us to tackle the most challenging, dreaded and uncomfortable task first – on the basis that once this is out the way we feel a tremendous sense of achievement and relief that we can use to build momentum, stay focused, feel increased self-esteem, and squeeze more out of each day.
BATCH TASKS
The majority of small business owners are used to multi-tasking, and whilst this can be a great skill, it can also hamper your productivity and effectiveness. The opposite of multi-tasking then is batch-tasking. The premise being that you can decrease distraction and increase concentration by focusing on a single task at a time. Then, when you batch tasks, meaning you group similar tasks together your effectiveness increases per tasks, meaning your efficiency sky rockets.
USE AN APP
Whatever industry you’re in, there is an app that will help streamline your productivity as a small business owner; saving you both time and money. Popular applications like Evernote are relevant for almost any small business owner yet there are a plethora of niche industry focused applications available, such as Comfreight, which are geared toward specific industries. That said, apps aren’t always the most productivity enhancing way to spend your time. A core principle of time management is to have a singular mental focus, and if you have notifications popping up, left right and centre – you will struggle to maintain the singular focus required to be efficient in your tasks.
PISTOL FOCUS
As small business owners, many times, we spread ourselves out too thinly across multiple projects. This approach leads to us running around, chasing our tail, and not really finishing anything. Think of a shotgun. The shotgun shell itself is made up multiple components that spread out, meaning, there’s a strong chance some of those particles will hit the target. A pistol, on the other hand, is a single focused bullet that is being driven toward its target with absolute power.
BE IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT
Your environment has a huge impact on your productivity, as it heavily influences your ability to focus, be creative and feel organised. If you have an office, or are thinking of getting an office, it’s a good idea to consider either learning about, or investing in proper office design through a reputable company such as OzoneInteriors.com. The impact your environment has on yourself, your staff, and your customers is absolutely phenomenal – and whilst it might be unrealistic to ensure the correct flow of qi, as a Feng Shui practitioner might be able to, it is necessary and realistic to have a basic design strategy to ensure productivity is maximised.
DELEGATE
A lot of times, small business owners find themselves working in the business, acting as everything from the receptionist… to the accountant… to the window cleaner – rather than on the business, as the leader navigating it toward success. This means that you are essentially working incredibly long hours, for potentially little pay, leading yourself into an early grave, with no time freedom to enjoy life. You are the business owner – you need to delegate. Your job is to run the business. You are the captain of the ship and require a team (whether virtual or physical) to support you. No man is an island and nobody can expect to build an empire on their own.
