Top tips for Smarter Time Management

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As running a business is demanding, it’s imperative that available time is managed carefully to maximise production. If time is poorly managed, life can become a constant battle in which you’re always trying to catch up, but careful control of time produces a managed environment that runs effectively and at optimum performance levels. Taking steps to ensure efficient time management will ensure that the business runs smoothly; tips to assist:

Establish goals

With so many duties demanding your time, create goals so that you can prioritise and achieve what you need to each day. Decide which tasks need to be completed urgently and give these your full attention. Prioritise the remainder of the duties so that they are completed during the rest of the day if possible. If something isn’t urgent and doesn’t need to be done that day, consider whether it needs to be dealt with at all. It’s easy to become bogged down in tasks of little value, or that could be delegated to someone else in the company.

Plan your time

Rather than just turning up at the company each day and then deciding what you will do, make a plan of your day, week or even your month, so that you can be sure your time is being allocated wisely. As you have already prioritised duties, fit them into your schedule according to importance. If you need to hold a meeting or speak with a colleague, plan time rather than trying to fit in a meeting between other appointments. You will know yourself what your most productive time of day is, so complete the most challenging tasks while you’re at your peak.

Create a system

Time is often wasted through poor organisation, so keep a diary and note everything in it so you don’t forget important meetings. Use email where possible rather than phone calls, as this keeps chatter to a minimum, and keep a database of all your regular contacts so you have everything to hand.

Common pitfalls

Too many business owners try to do everything themselves. Rather than attempt to deal with everything and risk making mistakes or missing deadlines, consider outsourcing finance and accounting so that you can concentrate your time on other aspects of the business.

Another common pitfall is failure to organise. Chaotic filing systems or schedules could create a problem for the company, as you are more likely to make errors or misplace important documents.

Taking steps to create an efficient time management plan will help you to complete all essential duties more quickly, leaving you more free time. If you would like to know how you can work in a smarter way, contact us for a brief chat.