LANDSCAPER’S CIRCLE
Scheduling for success The landscaping boom looks set to continue into 2021. To ensure this growth doesn’t impair how we run our businesses there are some steps Paula Warman would like to share Setting Goals The process of deciding what you want to achieve for the year and devising a plan to get there. Some are hesitant to set goals - without a goal there is little to aim for and it can be like setting sail on a ship with no destination. What goals should you set and how should you set them? Choosing S.M.A.R.T goals are key – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. Specific - Avoid non-specific goals. Rather than planning to increase profits generally, aim for a set target, for example to up profits by 10% on last year. Measurable – How do you know if your goal is achieved? Decide what the measurement is and tracking progress along the way. Examples of measurements might include turnover/profits, number of enquiries, average project value, increase on number of followers on specific social platforms to name a few. Achievable – Don’t set huge goals that are unlikely to be hit. By all means dream BIG but check that the goals are within your reach. Relevant – Ensure your goals align with your company’s mission and values. If your mission is to reduce your impact on the environment then ensure that the goals you set not only grow the business but align with that mission, whilst taking into account current business climate and conditions. Timely – every goal set needs a deadline. Planning There is no point in goal setting if you don’t spend time working out how you will achieve them. Failure to plan is planning to fail. When planning, work backwards from your goal to create smaller steps and milestones. Decide on your actions needed for each step and who you need to do what. Finally schedule your actions into your diary to ensure you do them. Ensure your goals and plan are on paper and communicated to other people in your team. Getting others on board with the goals you set, and the plans laid out will make reaching them easier, less stressful and a more enjoyable journey.
Project Management If you fall down when it comes to project management and scheduling your projects, then achieving the goals you have set can become more difficult and the business can become overwhelming. Overwhelm can lead to less action being taken and less (or no) progress being made. There are a multitude of ways to schedule projects. If you are technology savvy, look at digital platforms such as Monday.com, asana.com, trello, Zoho or similar. All offer online based project management tools and schedulers that come on an App for your mobile too. If you hate technology, then a paper diary and wall planner can work just as well. The key is to block out the time you anticipate for each project leaving gaps for over-run and breaks.
Adjust client expectations Finally, what goes hand in hand with managing your projects and your time is the ability to say no when required. We have all been in the position where you hate saying no to any projects. However, this is a skill to master in itself, if you want to achieve your goals and avoid overwhelm. You can choose to schedule jobs in well and turn down jobs that do not fit your calendar or ideal client profile. Alternatively, you can choose to schedule projects but squeeze customers in to ‘get the job’ or accept projects that you don’t really want to do in order to say yes. Personally, I would choose the former every time. This is the biggest change and challenge for any business owner yet it’s the one thing that can accelerate business growth and improve your work life balance. So that’s it, set your goals create a plan, manage your schedule and learn to say no! Have a fantastic 2021!
The Landscaper’s Circle is the only online platform exclusively for business owners in the landscaping industry to learn how to market and run their business better. Become part of the #TLCTribe today for training and support. If you need our help please email at info@thelandscaperscircle.co.uk | www.thelandscaperscircle.co.uk
The Landscaper | Issue 251 | February/March 2021
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