Many clients tell us that the main challenge they face when trying to improve their business is finding time to work ON the business without the distraction of day to day tasks.
The team at Together We Count have shared their tips for tackling this challenge.
Implementing just one of these will help you towards your goals...
2. Make an appointment with yourself. Block it out in your diary (paper or Outlook). Make sure those answering the phone know you are in a meeting and cannot be disturbed. Ideally hold your meeting out of the office so that you can’t be disturbed. Your business will survive for a few hours without you!
3. Spend 15-30 minutes thinking about your business and how you want it to look before opening your emails in the morning. Identify 3-7 goals for the year and judge everything you do on whether you are moving closer or further away from those goals, then delegate or stop doing the things that are not taking you closer.
4. Speak to TWC about our Business Development Programme. You will get supported, nagged and cajoled to ensure that you are regularly taking actions towards your goals.
5. Identify team members who can help by taking on some of your tasks. Mentor these team members and delegate to them – the initial investment of time will be worth it in the long run.
6. Do the working ON the business in the morning, before starting the ‘normal work’, which will always be there.
7. Recruit a Virtual Assistant (VA). A VA can often work different hours to you if you employ someone from a different part of the world. Since they work while you sleep, you can delegate work to them and when you get in the following morning the task is complete.
8. Create a task sheet using the example below for all the tasks that you do and put them in the most appropriate column. If you put tasks in column C, then you should also complete column D, to ensure that you set a deadline to remove this task from your task list.
9. Another idea similar system to the above is to use coloured cards. One colour denotes A type tasks eg green (only you can do), another denotes B tasks eg orange (should systemise but still want to keep), another denotes C tasks eg red (delegate to someone else). Each day they review the C coloured cards and work out who to delegate these tasks to, what systems need creating and a date for final handover. The aim is to have NO task C coloured cards left on your desk!
10. Follow our blog for more business advice and time saving ideas.
The team at Together We Count have shared their tips for tackling this challenge.
Implementing just one of these will help you towards your goals...
1. Put the following questions on a laminated sheet and ask yourself the questions before you start any task. It’s a great way to eliminate the jobs you shouldn’t be doing. Keep the sheet handy and get into the habit of referring to it regularly:
- How critical is it that this task is done? (If critical, block out time in diary. If not critical, either add it to the “nice ideas” list or delegate it)
- How important is it that I do this task?
- If not me, who is the best person to do it?
- Is there a step-by-step system or training video?
- If the task is likely to be repeated there should be a system?
2. Make an appointment with yourself. Block it out in your diary (paper or Outlook). Make sure those answering the phone know you are in a meeting and cannot be disturbed. Ideally hold your meeting out of the office so that you can’t be disturbed. Your business will survive for a few hours without you!
3. Spend 15-30 minutes thinking about your business and how you want it to look before opening your emails in the morning. Identify 3-7 goals for the year and judge everything you do on whether you are moving closer or further away from those goals, then delegate or stop doing the things that are not taking you closer.
4. Speak to TWC about our Business Development Programme. You will get supported, nagged and cajoled to ensure that you are regularly taking actions towards your goals.
5. Identify team members who can help by taking on some of your tasks. Mentor these team members and delegate to them – the initial investment of time will be worth it in the long run.
6. Do the working ON the business in the morning, before starting the ‘normal work’, which will always be there.
7. Recruit a Virtual Assistant (VA). A VA can often work different hours to you if you employ someone from a different part of the world. Since they work while you sleep, you can delegate work to them and when you get in the following morning the task is complete.
8. Create a task sheet using the example below for all the tasks that you do and put them in the most appropriate column. If you put tasks in column C, then you should also complete column D, to ensure that you set a deadline to remove this task from your task list.
|
Column
A |
Column
B |
Column
C |
Column
D |
|
Tasks that only you can do because of expertise, authority or confidentiality
|
Tasks that you want to retain (and it’s effective for you to do so)
|
Tasks to be delegated, contracted out, systemised or otherwise removed
|
Deadline for removal of tasks in column C
|
"Implementing just one of these will help you towards your goals..."
9. Another idea similar system to the above is to use coloured cards. One colour denotes A type tasks eg green (only you can do), another denotes B tasks eg orange (should systemise but still want to keep), another denotes C tasks eg red (delegate to someone else). Each day they review the C coloured cards and work out who to delegate these tasks to, what systems need creating and a date for final handover. The aim is to have NO task C coloured cards left on your desk!
10. Follow our blog for more business advice and time saving ideas.
If you would like to see how Together We Count can add value to your business, why not get in touch?
info@togetherwecount.co.uk
www.togetherwecount.co.uk
https://g.page/Together-We-Count-Limited?gm
01273 569088
0114 400 0119
www.togetherwecount.co.uk
https://g.page/Together-We-Count-Limited?gm
01273 569088
0114 400 0119
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