Running a business is no easy feat, and as owner, you’ve undoubtedly got a lot of plates spinning. It’s easy to become overrun with responsibility, and there’s only so long a person can go on before extreme burnout sets in.
Of course, this assumes that you haven’t made efforts to optimize your day-to-day efficiency.
Small tweaks and changes can go a long way, and in this article, you’ll learn about some of the most effective ways to simplify your workday.
Hiring an Accountant
One of the single best things you can do to save yourself a world of time and stress is to hire an accountant. A reputable CPA firm will take your financial and tax records and crunch the numbers so you don’t have to – they’re probably the most valuable piece of outsourcing you’ll ever do.
While it’s possible to do your own taxes, for the vast majority of people, it simply isn’t worth the effort – so do yourself a favor!
Proper Use of Technology and Automation
Even the smallest of businesses incorporate modern technology in some form, and if you set things up correctly and are savvy about what software and hardware combinations you use, you can save a huge amount of time.
For example, automated invoicing software may only save a few minutes at a time, but this can add up to major improvements in efficiency over the long run. Then, there are tools like AI-powered chatbots; these can, in some cases, entirely negate the need for customer service, and are able to perform basic tasks like sending emails and redirecting customers to the right area.
You’ve also got overarching systems like CRM (customer relationship management) packages and payroll management software, so do some further research to discover what may be of use to you – you’ll likely be surprised at what’s available.
Optimizing Your Communication Channels
Communication is everything in business, which also means that if you suffer from poor communication, you’re probably in trouble.
Thankfully, there are many ways to avoid these kinds of problems. For example, it’s a good idea to employ collaborative tools like Slack for instant messaging and Zoom for video conferencing: these pieces of software allow important details to be communicated quickly and clearly.
On a smaller note, you could also try using the email notification management systems that are built into your email software – these can be used for simple reminders that can be surprisingly effective for keeping everyone on task.
Ways to Enhance Employee Productivity
Your employees are the backbone of your business, and maintaining a happy workforce should be at the forefront of everything you do.
Even from a purely business standpoint, people who really don’t want to be at work are not, understandably, going to be thoroughly invested. Offer as much flexibility as you can afford by being generous with time off, and where you can, provide professional development opportunities to help them grow.
Finally, be involved in your employee’s day-to-day: ask them how they’re getting on and show that you care. Sincerity is incredibly important.
Utilizing Time Management Principles
If you’re struggling with not having enough time, it stands to reason that you could benefit from some tried and tested time management tools.
One of the best is the Pareto Principle. This method suggests following the 80/20 rule – that 80% of your results come from 20% of the causes. Identifying where your special 20% lies should be a top priority so that you can stop wasting time on stuff that doesn’t matter as much (the 80%) and start hunkering down on the stuff that does.
There are plenty of time-tracking tools you can use to help you discover where you’re spending your time and whether you’re spending it on activities that are actually worth it. You may find that some of the stuff is best outsourced to other companies – this will cost you more money in the short term, but the time it frees up will likely be extremely valuable (for example, many people outsource their IT support, HR [human resources], and digital marketing efforts).
Wrapping Up
Improving the working efficiency of your business is something that will take time, and improvements must be made bit by bit rather than as one huge overhaul. It’s all about identifying individual weaknesses, fixing them, and then moving on to the next one in a systematic fashion.
It’ll be a long time before you work out every kink, but if you utilize the tools laid out in this article, you’ll be far closer to that end goal than you are now. Good luck!
