5 tips to work smarter, not harder

No matter what industry you operate in, time is the most valuable commodity for business owners. But when you are wearing multiple hats, trying to manage your cash flow, engaging with new customers and handling all the back-end activities, the notion of being even more productive can feel like an impossible task.

There’s good news though: armed with a few simple tips, you can streamline your operations and focus on what’s most important. The result? Working smarter, not harder. Here are five ways to do exactly that.

1. Make time to plan

After an exhausting week when it’s time to finally unwind, it’s easy to put must-dos to one side. But while it’s important to take time for yourself, it’s equally important to plan ahead. After all, good planning can set you up for a less-stressful week.

So set aside one hour each week to plan for the next seven days. One hour is all you need – and in many cases you’ll be done much sooner. Factor in all the work essentials like meetings, appointments, interviews, client catch-ups, employee training, marketing and more. But also make sure you also plan time to focus on you: schedule in activities that help you recharge. Whether that’s an afternoon with the kids, family or friends, exercise, or some much-needed quiet time with a good show, meditation or personal growth learning, make yourself a priority. Nourishing the “me” of your life will reap benefits in all other areas.

Future you will thank you for spending time relaxing rather than stressing about the upcoming week. See it as in investment (in time) that will give you a return (in productivity). And I get if you are a sceptic about how useful this is. So was I. Try it for a few weeks and see how you go.

2. Seek out a business advisor or mentor

Running a business can be complicated. Even companies that are head and shoulders above the competition never stop to rest on their laurels. On the contrary, the best leaders are always seeking out better ways of doing business.

While you might be confident juggling the day-to-day operations of your business, unforeseen complications can – and will – arise from time to time. It’s here that a business advisor will be able to understand, assess and guide you in the right direction. Whether it’s a legal dispute, succession planning, fundraising efforts or something else entirely, an advisor or mentor can provide the clarity and insights you need to move forward.

Once you find the courage to ask for help or assistance and don’t feel that you are imposing on people, you will be amazed at how many business owners are willing to share ideas, time and support. It is uplifting personally as well as business enhancing. 

3. Leverage the power of technology

We are living in the age of information, with data being a key commodity for most organisations. Hyper-connectivity and digital transformations are the prevailing buzzwords for businesses right now, so if you aren’t adopting useful technologies then you are missing out on time-saving solutions.

There are digital platforms out there that can automate all your most time-consuming tasks – think accounts receivable, invoicing and reporting as just one example of back-end technology leveraging – while many AI solutions are helping owners collect consumer insights that can inform better decision-making.

It’s time to cast off the shackles of legacy systems and embrace the value of technology for more productive business processes.

4. Focus on income-generating goals 

When creating your list of business goals, single out the ones that can actually provide real income. You can still strive for those pie-in-the-sky goals – after all, they may be what transforms you from a small business into a market leader. But to maintain consistent cash flow throughout the year, you want to be hitting targets that deliver income.

For example, maybe you want to get five new clients before the end of the financial year. That’s a clear and achievable goal with a monetary outcome. Once you have that goal in mind, set out the specifics of how you will achieve it, and then schedule in relevant actions over the coming weeks and months that will turn that goal into a reality.

And don’t worry when first starting out that you are uncertain about what is a realistic goal. Have the courage just to set one and see how it goes.  Before long, you will become accomplished in learning about your business and how to gaol set better in the future.

5. Create a schedule – and stick to it!

Just like creating a budget and sticking to it, doing the same with a business schedule is easier said than done. But it is possible!

Distractions are inherent for every business owner, so make sure you demarcate ‘work time’ and ‘downtime’ to ensure there is no unconscious merging of the two. Getting pulled off-course is becoming more frequent now that so many people are working from home or in a hybrid setting, so the onus is on you to be as efficient and effective as you can be when in ‘work mode’. A robust schedule can help keep you accountable.

At Flying Change, we understand that running a business is as challenging as it is rewarding. That’s why our professional services are designed to support time-poor business owners be more productive while streamlining their operations. To find out how we can help you work smarter, not harder, contact the experts or call 0418 676 977 today.