BUSINESS TALK

{ BUSINESS TALK{ BUSINESS TALK }} HOW PRODUCTIVE ARE YOU REALLY?

BY RUMELLA CAMERON

We typically start off our days with an idea of what needs to be done and we create a to-do list. You probably take a few minutes to think about what’s important, like, I need to pick up the groceries, drop off the kids, email this prospect or call this client. But are you really being productive? Are the actions you are taking today making you any money for tomorrow? In today’s world we are surrounded by so many distractions, especially with technology all around us. You have social media, family, friends and clients that need your attention. Let’s get real. It’s time to access your daily activities and truly have an understanding of what you are doing and what you should be doing.

So let me ask you this, what exactly is productivity and why is it important to your business? Productivity is key to a company’s profitability and long-term success. At the end of the day your success depends on your productivity and work performance. So how do you stay motivated and focused? As a business owner I am sharing some strategies I use to stay productive in my business.

The first thing I do is structure my day to accomplish the most important top three items that have to be in alignment with my goals. A technique that I find very helpful in staying focused and productive is using time blocking. I would schedule everything on my calendar in one hour increments. If I have to do more than an hour for each task I would simply take a 15 minute break so I can regroup and refocus. Before all the distractions start flowing in, I do my best to get an hour to myself of quiet. I won’t check my phone or social media. I would spend at least 15 to 20 minutes meditating before I tackle my to-do list. After structuring my day, I make sure I prioritize my time so that I am effective and efficient. Going back to time blocking, my goal is to focus on the things that have the highest priority. It’s best to tackle these projects or activities first thing in the morning. To eliminate distractions,

I would turn my phone to focus feature where I have the settings to only accept calls from clients or team members. I turn off my notifications for social media, email and things I know I don’t need to be paying attention to during the day.

Before starting my work, I delegate tasks to my team members. We use a project management tool that allows us to see an overview of the company’s ongoing projects whether internal or external. Each project has a breakdown of tasks, activities and deadlines which makes my life a lot easier and it helps everyone stay connected and in the know. Which in turn eliminates unnecessary meetings. This saves not only myself but my team valuable time that can be spent on operational work.

Using Time-tracking software helps monitor the productivity of my employees. This makes it easy for my team members to plan their day and know how long each task takes to complete. As a result, they have more control over their schedule, which could lead to a boost in productivity. As an employer, I can use these time-tracking reports to see how my business is currently operating and if I need to change things to make it run more efficiently this is a great way to readjust and be productive.

Being productive to maximize the hours you are spending in a day is critical to the success of your business.

Ask yourself what am I doing and why? Is this activity bringing any value to me and my company?

Although all the business flows through me as the CEO that does not mean I have to be doing it all. I talked about delegating earlier and how effective it can be but automation is just as important. Small businesses are sometimes reluctant to invest in automation, but automating processes is a key advantage they have. 88% of small businesses say automation allows their company to compete with larger businesses. Automation will allow your small business to scale its output without having to hire more people.

“Are you producing at a level that is moving your business forward and seeing real growth?”

Take some time to see how you are spending your day and measure your performance. Are you producing at a level that is moving your business forward and seeing real growth? If you are wishing you have more hours in the day to tackle your to-do list and are feeling like you are going in circles use some of these strategies and apply it to your routine. Conversance Business Solutions is a full-service administrative support, and consultancy firm, serving businesses from small to midsize nationwide. Our team specializes in various virtual assistant services and onsite support tailored to meet each of our client’s needs. Whether we work as an extension of your team for one-time projects or long-term engagements, we bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. We hope these tips were helpful. Get in touch with us today at 585-484-0038 or visit us online at www.conversance.biz to find out more about the ways in which our team can help you.