When you launched your business, it was just you and a friend working out of a garage. Now that your business has blossomed, you might be finding it difficult to supervise different business operations. You not only need to focus on running the business smoothly but also work on future expansion plans.
As an entrepreneur, time management is an important skill to master. Otherwise, you’ll end up constantly behind deadlines and won’t have any time left for yourself. In this post, we’re sharing some useful tips to utilise your time wisely. Take a look.
1. Schedule Religiously
No matter how good you are with completing tasks on time, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage time when you have a lot on your plate. Avoid missing meetings or deadlines by scheduling everything in advance. A well-planned weekly and monthly schedule will enable you to properly utilise your time.
2. Focus on Prioritising
When you’re running a business, there are countless things to be done. But it’s crucial to realise that tasks on your to-do list have varying degrees of importance. Some need your immediate attention, while others can be dealt with later. In addition to scheduling, also make sure you plan tasks according to the order of priority.
3. Don’t Hesitate to Delegate
You have built a business from the ground up, so it’s understandable if you want to make sure everything is done right. However, as your business grows. It won’t be feasible to do everything yourself. You have to become comfortable with delegating and trusting your employees.
4. Embrace Automation
In today’s day and age, technology is your friend. One can automate repetitive tasks to save time. With the evolution of technology, an entrepreneur can make use of various automated systems such as automated order taking system, warehouse management system, or cloud based inventory management software to streamline the process and save time on various tasks.
5. Make the Most of Outsourcing
There are certain tasks that are simply too time-consuming to conduct in-house. You must understand the limitations of your resources and adopt outsourcing when needed. Outsourcing tasks such as bid and tender management frees up your time and attention. It also allows your organisation to benefit from an external specialist’s knowledge and experience.
6. Set Aside Time for Yourself
When you’re creating your schedule, consider yourself to be a priority just as much as investors, employees and other stakeholders. Your schedule should have time set aside for lunch, family time, catching up with friends, learning new skills and so on. Investing in yourself is equally important as investing in an asset.
7. Minimise Distractions
Do you find yourself getting distracted easily? Delaying tasks can quickly take up your limited time. Find ways to keep yourself focused to complete things on time. If your phone is a big distraction, set it on Do Not Disturb mode when you’re working.
8. Get an Assistant
If you’re too busy to even plan your days, you should think about hiring an assistant. An assistant can help you keep up with your professional commitments as well as maintain work-life balance. Getting a virtual assistant is a great option if you’re on a tight budget.
9. Take Sufficient Rest
Work may be a significant part of your life, but it shouldn’t be your entire life. You shouldn’t overlook the importance of taking proper rest. Not only is it necessary for your overall well being, but it also enables you to stay consistently productive without feeling burnt out.
10. Consider a Time Audit
Are you struggling to keep up despite thoroughly planning and scheduling your day? It would be helpful to conduct a time audit. Tracking and analysing how you spend your time will help you determine if you’re wasting time on certain tasks.
The Bottom Line
Is the lack of time-management skills spoiling your weekends or impacting overall revenue? Hopefully, the aforementioned tips help you manage your time better.
