Better Manage Your Time as a Small Business Owner

Time management is a skill that everyone benefits from; but most especially the small business owner. Think about it – the smaller the business the more hats the business owner has to wear! A few best practices around time management enables for:

• Increased productivity
• Increased satisfaction with the business
• Improved relationships with – not just employees but also family and friends
• Reduced frustration and stress

All of which helps keep you healthy personally and your business moving in the right direction (profitable and meeting its strategic objectives). Too often small business owners have so much going on that there is a tendency to react rather than pausing to understand the situation. Rarely – unless there is an actual fire! – do we need to react immediately to a situation. A few moments to pause and reflect about what is happening enables for better, and less stressful, decision making and problem solving.

Take these steps to better manage the limited time you have as a small business owner:

• First, determine where you are actually spending your time. Take a week to track your time down to 15 minute increments. Yes, it is a bit of work, however, you’ll soon figure out where the bottlenecks are – what is bogging you down from getting done what really needs to get done.
• Focus on the important issues (what’s tied to your strategy). The non-important stuff can be pushed aside for now.
• Learn to delegate operational responsibilities to others. Even a small business might benefit from a part-time administrative assistant.
• Prioritize your “to do” list. Use tools to help you manage your work such as Microsoft Excel or the Task Manager in Microsoft Outlook, or even just a simple notepad!
• Set aside time each day to work on your projects. During that time, turn off your phone (or send the calls to voicemail) and shut down your email. Put up a “do not disturb” sign so you are left uninterrupted.

Using a variety of time management techniques you will soon find that you can get more done in less time and you’ll start to meet those goals you have been meaning to get to!

What about you? What are your secrets for managing your precious time? Please share in the Comments field below. Thanks!