Learning how to manage time well as a business owner can help things run smoothly and get more done. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting a small business or running a big company, knowing how to use time wisely can be the difference between success and failure.
Read on to find out how as a business you can make your daily work better.
Sort Out Tasks with the Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix groups tasks into four simple categories: ‘urgent and important’ ‘important but not urgent’ ‘urgent but not important’ ‘not urgent or important’. By splitting tasks this way you can focus on what really matters and not get lost in a long list of things to do.
Look into the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique can help when you’re feeling overwhelmed by tasks and can allow your employees to boost their efficiency. It’s about working for twenty five minutes on one thing, then taking a five minute break. After four of these cycles, you take a longer break. This method fights tiredness, keeps you focused and helps you get more done.
Use Technology to Help
There are lots of tools out there these days to help manage time. Software like Trello, Asana, or Monday.com can help teams organise tasks and improve collaboration and efficiency within your business. Calendar apps like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook can schedule meetings and make sure you have time for your work. Software that connects different departments of your business like BuildOps can save time and boost efficiency.
Share the Load
When you’re in charge of a business, it’s important to delegate to other people and not try and take over everything yourself. Find things that don’t need the particular skills that you as the boss has, and let your team do them instead. Sharing work doesn’t just make things easier for you, but it also helps your team learn new things and feel more responsible. Dont micromanage and trust that the employees you have will do their job well.
Cut Out Time Wasters
Bad habits like checking social media too much, reading too many unimportant emails and having unplanned meetings can waste a lot of time. Block distractions from work computers and set limits on certain tasks so you know you’re not spending too much time on them. Have meetings with clear plans so they stay on track, and remember that sometimes they really can (and should) just be an email rather than disrupting the workflow of your staff.
Keep Learning and Getting Better
Managing time well is something you keep getting better at with practice. Encourage learning in your business, and look at how you’re managing your time regularly. From there you can see what’s working and what’s not, and change things based on what you’ve learned to keep getting better.
Managing time is all about using it in the best way to get things done. It’s not always about doing more- it’s about doing what’s most important. As the saying goes, work smarter not harder and make sure you’re continuing to keep tabs on the way your time is spent in business.
