Success in your business depends largely on the ability to maximize your resources. Your time is one of your most valuable resources and using it as productively as possible should be a top priority. If you find yourself spending a lot of time on things that aren’t the best use of your time, read on to find some easy ways to increase productivity in your business.
1. Distractions
Social media and E-mail are the number one distraction for most people. Instead of sporadically checking your email and social media, try scheduling some specific times during the day to do these tasks. Most people find 15 – 30 minutes at each occurrence is plenty of time.
2. Interruptions
Interruptions are another area where opportunities to increase productivity are likely. Start paying attention to the causes of interruptions to evaluate if they are really necessary. Once you have this information, it becomes your choice to allow the interruption or not. Tracking your time is a great way to determine which interruptions are necessary and which you can avoid.
3. Repetitive Tasks
Repetitive tasks such as phone calls and scheduling appointments are things that many of us choose to do ourselves. Even if you think you don’t have the time to train someone or the money to pay them, it may be worthwhile to re-evaluate some of these tasks. Delegating to someone with the right expertise will free up your time so you can focus on more productive activities.
Reflect on Your Patterns
Increasing your productivity doesn’t have to be a complicated undertaking. If you take a few minutes at the end of the day to reflect on distractions, interruptions and repetitive tasks that could be delegated, you are guaranteed to see an uptick in your productivity.
Action for the week: Take a few minutes at the end of the day to reflect on how often you were distracted by social media, email and interruptions. Also, think about repetitive tasks that you can delegate.