Sales and Marketing - Jen Jordan

Sales and Marketing - Jen Jordan
Jen Jordan brings a wealth of life and leadership experiences to her writing. After 10 years creating a variety of content for a nonprofit, Jen decided to establish her own writing business. She specializes in creating high quality blog and website content for small businesses. When she's not writing, Jen is a competitive triathlete with a goal of completing a triathlon in all 50 states.

Improve Your Productivity and Time Management Skills

Improve Your Productivity and Time Management Skills

We understand that small business owners are extremely busy and responsible for anything from bookkeeping to website maintenance and customer service. Time management is a critical skill for all small business owners. We rounded up four tips and tricks to help you improve your productivity and time management skills.

1. Update your computer and software technology

Technology can help small business owners use limited resources in smarter and more efficient ways.

Nothing sucks the life and productivity out of a day like fighting with slow or inefficient computers. Investing in quality computers, software, and other relevant will keep you and your employees working quickly and efficiently throughout the day (and reduce frustration). The benefits of upgrading and improving technology almost always outweigh the financial costs.

2. Incorporate productivity software and streamline systems

Time tracking software can be an excellent tool to help you determine how you and your employees spend time. Not only is this information great for accountability, but it can also help you improve systems and processes!

Project management and task management software can help you keep up with day-to-day business responsibilities (and stay organized).

Many small businesses also find it helpful to develop a digital filing system to help you and your team save, share, and find digital documents faster.

Email can be such a time-suck. Find an efficient email management process to keep up with important emails without devoting valuable hours.

Some small business owners set a timer and use a “batch process” system. They move action items to their task list, delete junk mail, and answer emails that demand a response.

Use an online invoicing service to eliminate unnecessary paperwork and reduce the cost (and time) of collecting and processing payments.

3. Map Processes

Inefficient processes in the workplace cause frustration, lost time, and can even cost you money! Take the time to map your processes to identify anything that might be slowing down your productivity. Invite your best employees to help you map various workplace processes. Ask them to share what they feel holds them back from peak performance.

Even if you are a “solo-entrepreneur,” take the time to map your own processes to adapt or eliminate inefficient ones.

4. Plan your breaks

Studies prove that we humans need to take breaks. Whether you use the Pomodoro Technique or some other method, focusing for a set period then taking a break will improve overall efficiency and productivity. Research shows that the most efficient workers tend to work in 90-minute chunks, sprinkling coffee breaks, walks, and other types of breaks throughout their day.

5. Reward productivity

If you have employees, cultivate a positive work environment where hard work, efficiency, creativity, and collaboration are celebrated and rewarded regularly with extra vacation days, bonuses, and other incentives. People tend to work hard for things they value.

There are many other ways to improve efficiency and productivity around your small business. What’s most important is to choose one or two strategies and commit, rather than taking a haphazard approach.

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/email-management-tips-2951532

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-technology-in-small-business-2951633

https://www.freshbooks.com/hub/productivity/improving-efficiency-workplace

https://todoist.com/productivity-methods/pomodoro-technique