Can You Generate More “"Productive” Time?
For many small business owners, a recurring challenge is not having enough time in a day to accomplish all necessary tasks.
Have you ever got to the end of the day, having not stopped, only to wonder, "What have I accomplished today?" If the answer is yes, the next question is: How often do you feel this way?
So, what can you do to make this better? Especially when working in an office environment with all the distractions that can bring….
Enter the "Do Not Disturb" (DND) mode.
The simplest method to carve out time involves deliberately allocating periods for tackling tasks on your "To-Do List." This happens, for example, when someone declares, "I have a lot to do, so I'll be working from home tomorrow," effectively placing themselves in a DND mode to complete their list.
Why is this effective?
Often, we enter our workplace armed with a list of tasks to complete and a plan for the day. But then we get bombarded by phone calls, requests from customers and suppliers, colleagues seeking your time, and a constant influx of emails and correspondence.
If this sounds familiar, acknowledging this collectively within your team is a crucial first step towards finding a solution.
Why not try to implement a daily 1 to 2-hour DND mode in the office?
Block phone calls, minimise internal disruptions, and turn off your email unless directly relevant to the "To-Do List."
By the end of the day, you will feel a sense of accomplishment, increased satisfaction and lower stress levels!
Here are some other “time saving” techniques that you could try:
Delegation: Resist the temptation to do everything yourself; instead, delegate tasks and provide necessary training.
Assumption and Communication: Assume tasks will be completed unless informed otherwise, fostering a culture of accountability and open communication.
Email Management: Streamline email handling by delegating someone to sort, delete irrelevant emails, and forward actionable items to the relevant employee.
"One Touch" Rule: Aim for efficiency by addressing emails and letters promptly without the need for re-reading – also helps keep the inbox down!
Seating Arrangements: Be mindful of the impact of having chairs around your desk. Don’t laugh, but if you have a chair in or around your desk, people will sit in it! If people sit in a chair, the discussion will take longer than if they are standing. So, do you want to have a chair for people near your desk?
By adopting some or all of these strategies, you as an employer, can generate additional productive time and boost employee confidence!
Which will you be trying?
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