Running a business is rarely easy. However, there are several tips that you can use that will improve your productivity when running your SME.
Improve your planning
Starting your day with a plan is one of the best things you can do. Create a schedule of what you should be doing throughout the day and tick it off the list when it gets done. This will keep you focus on what is important and will help you delegate (if possible!). Following a schedule will also create a sense of accomplishment when you finish your tasks, making you happier, motivated, and more productive everyday.
Set SMART goals
Every business should have a set of defined goals. When you set goals for yourself, make sure it’s SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed). If you set unrealistic or poorly-defined goals for you or your employees, you’re setting up for failure. When goals are missed, it’s a recipe for de-motivation, which kills productivity stone dead. However, by setting more realistic and achievable goals you can avoid this issue, engaging your team and encouraging them to focus. This will enable everyone to be more productive everyday.
Reduce distractions
Distractions can come from anywhere, such as loud noises outside, or getting sucked into absent-mindedly scrolling through Instagram for the 15th time in a day.
However, there are ways to change this and get you back to being as productive as possible. First, make a list of everything that distracts you during the day. You can then identify what’s eating into your time, and remove it from your workday.
Take advantage of productivity tools
Productivity tools have already revolutionised the processes of many businesses. Even free tools provide great benefits. For example, Google Docs is a brilliant tool for working on a document. It removes the need for constant need to save documents and also can be worked on by multiple people at the same time – so no more endlessly sending files back and forth via email. You can also access it from any linked device, so if you get a brainwave outside business hours, you don’t need to head back to the office in the dead of night!
