Time Management for SMEs & Startups
1. Understanding the Need for Time Management
Have you ever felt like there’s just not enough time in the day? Do you find yourself constantly running late, or do you feel as though your workday is filled with tasks that never seem to get completed?
If so, then it’s likely that you suffer from a lack of time management skills. Time management is the skill of effectively prioritizing and organizing one’s schedule in order to be more productive and efficient. This can help an individual stay focused on their goals and objectives throughout the day, allowing them to spend less time doing tasks that won’t help them achieve their ultimate goal for the day.
In this fast-paced society, we live in today, having good time management skills are more important than ever before. The days have become longer and busier than ever before, which has led many people to feel as though they simply don’t have enough hours in the day to get everything that they need to get done. If a person suffers from a lack of time management skills, then it can cause them stress and anxiety over not being able to accomplish all of their daily tasks on time or even at all.
2. Establishing Priorities and Goals
When you are starting a new business, it can be difficult to know where to start. You have so many ideas for how you want your company to grow and improve, but how do you prioritize those goals? The first step in setting priorities is developing goals. Prioritizing your goals helps keep you on track and prevents them from becoming overwhelming. It also helps with staying motivated throughout the day if you see progress toward your goal every day. What are some of the most important things that I should focus on today? How can I best accomplish those tasks? Once you have prioritized your goals, it’s time to establish a time management system that allows you to stay focused and productive throughout the day.
3. Planning Your Day
Doing this simple task will ensure that nothing falls through the cracks during the course of your busy workday. Whether it’s an appointment or a meeting with clients, there is always something on my schedule at all times of the day.
3. Utilizing Scheduling Tools
Scheduling is the process of planning and organizing your time in order to be productive. Scheduling tools can assist you with this vital task by providing a variety of different features that can help you manage your time more efficiently. One tool that I have found to be very useful is Google Calendar. Google Calendar allows you to create multiple calendars, each one containing a specific date or set of dates. These calendars can be scheduled for different events, meetings, and appointments. You are able to view all of your schedules at any given time from one location on your computer or mobile device. This helps me stay organized because it allows me to see what my day looks like at any given moment without having to go back through my schedule every five minutes looking for an appointment or event that has not been completed yet.
Another scheduling tool that I use frequently is Outlook 2013 on my laptop and Outlook 2016 on my desktop computer as well as my mobile phone (both Apple products).
4. Delegating Tasks and Responsibilities
a. Prioritizing
b. Time Management Tools
c. How To Stop Procrastinating
d. The Pomodoro Technique to Improve Focus and Productivity
e. How To Make A to-do list that actually works?
5. Setting Boundaries and Avoiding Distractions
A lot of small business owners get distracted easily and fail to focus on their main goal. This can lead to a lot of problems, like not completing your tasks on time or missing opportunities because you were too busy trying to find the perfect social media marketing strategy.
To avoid distractions, set boundaries for yourself. For example, schedule your daily calls with clients during specific times of the day so you don’t have to worry about checking your phone when it’s time for those calls. Also, try to limit the amount of social media platforms you use at one time. If you have a Facebook page for your business and a personal Twitter account, chances are that you will be too distracted if you try to do both things at once.
Secondly, identify what is important and what isn’t as far as your small business is concerned. Then make sure that everything else falls into place around this core task list in order to prevent burnout and stay focused on the most important thing that needs to be done right now.
6. Evaluating Progress and Adjusting Strategies
A lot of small business owners are great at planning, but they fail to monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed. Making a plan is an important first step in any venture, but it’s the execution of that plan that leads to success or failure. A good way for small business owners to improve their time management skills is by implementing a goal-setting system. By setting goals each month, you can be more accountable for your actions and make adjustments when things don’t go according to plan.
7. Delegating Work To Others
One of the most common mistakes made by small business owners is failing to delegate work effectively. When you own your own company, it can feel overwhelming trying to manage everything on your own. The best thing you can do for yourself and your team empowers them with the knowledge and tools they need in order to grow their roles within the company. This will allow them to focus on growing their careers while also freeing up some time for you to dedicate to running your company.