Every business owner is guilty of trying to do too much. You are under pressure for your business to succeed, and it’s your responsibility to make sure that happens. But there comes a point when you may be spending too much time and energy on tasks that can be automated or delegated, stalling productivity and forward progress. Follow these tips to help ease that burden and begin on the path to growth and success.
Identify Priorities & Set Goals
Take a look at the tasks you handle on a daily basis. Then consider your goals. Are the items on your daily “to-do” list in line with your long-term goals? Chances are, the answer is no. A good tip is to identify all of the things currently wasting your time – unnecessary phone calls or meetings and tasks that can be handled by someone else – and make it a priority not to do those things. Delegate where possible and cut out wasted time.
Once you have identified your priorities, make an effort each day to focus on your priorities and to work toward set goals. Having clearly established goals makes it easier to say “no” to the things that are distracting you from your priorities.
Trust Your Team
Letting go of some tasks may be difficult for some, especially if you have a tendency to micro-manage your business. But most day-to-day decisions can often be handled without your interference or approval, and your employees should feel empowered to make decisions on their own and with your trust. Establish clear rules and guidelines so employees and managers know when they can make a decision, and what requires your attention. This frees up your time, and promotes ownership and morale with your employees.
Automate Processes
Manually repeating a task over and over is a waste of time, and there are a lot of areas in which these tasks can be automated to give yourself more of your most valuable resource – time. If you find yourself writing essentially the same email multiple times, create a template. If you are constantly having to ask for an update on a job from a project manager, consider using job management software so you can quickly and easily access all that information easier and faster.
There are numerous tools available that can help you or your team automate tasks that can be difficult or time-consuming. Identify the areas of greatest need within your company, and seek out ways that you can reduce the time wasting tasks.
Take Time Off
While it might sound counter-intuitive to take time off to be more productive, giving yourself one day a week where you don’t work promotes a healthier work-life balance and reduces burnout and fatigue. Focus on spending time with friends or family, getting outside, or doing something that you enjoy for the sole purpose of enjoyment. As a restoration business owner, you may find this difficult – but delegation is key.
Each of these tips are designed to free up your time so you can focus on what’s most important – growing your business. Find what works for you and establish daily routines to support your goals. Over time, you’ll find yourself less stressed and with more time to do what you really love.
