S M A L L
B U S I N E S S
Prioritization is Key
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eing a business owner is challenging regardless of the economy, condition of the industry, time of year, or even time of day! On numerous occasions, I have been given the analogy that being a business owner is like being a metaphorical “fire fighter". The challenge is that there is ALWAYS a “fire” that needs to be put out. How do you decide what to attack first? Some “fires” to attack are obvious such as those that are disturbing the core structure or foundation of the business like responding to a customer who is waiting on a service to be provided, an employee whose direct deposit didn’t occur, or paying an invoice. What about the rest? Task or opportunities that are urgent, appear to be important, or reoccurring, whether it be an opportunity to bid on a job that must be in by the end of the day or the latest email that pinged your phone? Below are a few suggestions or thoughts that hopefully will help you decipher and filter through setting priorities throughout your day and week: 1) What task or opportunities are time sensitive? If something has a deadline attached to it, then the decision of when to complete it can be easier to determine. If it tasks
related, then the deadline itself will help dictate when and how it is completed. If it is opportunity related, the challenge with the deadline is determining if it fits with the direction and strategy of your company. One thought on how it fits with the direction of your company is core values.
destination. The goal setting serves as land markers along the trail to light the way. The strategic plan and goal setting produces similar effects for a business owner as they will help one navigate what opportunities and task to work on as they set the direction to take the business.
2) What are the core values of your business?
Prioritizing task, capitalizing on opportunities, along with other type “fires” are challenges a business owner faces daily. Developing the ability to determine when, where, and how to attack those “fires” is the key. Hopefully these tips have provided some additional insights into knowing when, where, and how to roll!
Core values are the guiding principles that help business leaders, managers, and employees make decisions. In the decision process, they are part of the “filtering” process. How does the task or opportunity align with these values? For example, if one of your values is, “Our customer is always first.” As you look at setting priorities on completing task or seizing opportunities, some of those at the top should be related to taking care of your customers. 3) What are the strategic goals and objectives for the business? Having a strategic plan and setting both long- and short-term goals for the business can also be a major resource in determining priorities. Developing a strategic plan for the business is much like having a compass when hiking in the wilderness. If a hiker knows the direction of their destination, then the compass acts as the guiding force to reach their
NEED HELP WITH YOUR SMALL BUSINESS? Contact Todd Carlisle with the UGA Small Business Development Center at (706) 569-2651 to schedule a consultation in our LaGrange office.
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