As a business owner, you know how important it is to manage your time wisely. However, between your workload, onboarding new members of staff and those all important meetings, it can be difficult to know which to prioritise and which to drop all together. Taking the time to learn how to manage and free up more of your time is beneficial to your business and your mental health, so let’s take a look at some ways you can do exactly that.
Delegate your workload
The first step in freeing up more of your precious time is by learning how to delegate your workload effectively. Is there a task that a member of your team could take on? Take a look at the skills and experience of your staff, even if that means giving them a task that’s outside of their job description. Not only will this free up more of your time, but it will help build up the confidence of your team and allow more to be done in less time.
Alternatively, you could outsource some of your workload. If your team already has a full schedule or doesn’t have the skills needed to get the task done, you could hire a freelancer to do the task for you. It could be something as simple as replying to emails or updating your social media that’s taking up a large portion of your day. Consider using Upwork or Fiverr to find a skilled freelancer to take on roles that could free up your day.
Streamline your processes
Sit back and take a look at the way you run things. Is it as smooth as it could be? Is there room for improvement? If the answer is yes to both of these things, it’s time to look at some ways to make your processes more streamlined. Try and look for ways you can automate some of your tasks. This could be in invoicing, payroll, or even customer communications – there are loads of different pieces of software you could use to make these processes automated, meaning you’ll have much more time to spend each week on other important tasks.
If a lot of your time is spent making decisions, now might be the time to put in standard operating procedures for every day tasks or decisions. That way, when this task is being completed, you can follow a certain set of rules, which will help reduce the time you spend wondering which decision to make. This could also help staff members too, so consider putting standard operating procedures in place for all tasks.
Embrace flexible working
Looking at introducing flexible working into your week day can save you time in many different ways. Not only will you save time commuting to work, but it also allows you and members of your team to work in environments that help with productivity and other commitments. So, if you’re looking at spending more time at home with your children, you can allow yourself to work from home and work when it’s best suited to you.
If flexible working means that you’re not on site to oversee things, consider using construction project management software so you can get real time updates and make sure that budgets are met. You can also manage resources and communicate with your team without the need to be present.
Upskill yourself
Learning new skills and making sure that you stay up to date with industry trends will allow you to save some time too. Because you’ll be in the know, you can spend less time making decisions and more time taking action and getting things done.
You can do this by attending networking events where you can meet like minded business owners. Not only can you share shortcuts that could save you even more time in your work day, but you’ll also have useful contacts that could be beneficial to your business in the future.
Use technology
Finally, technology can be amazing when it comes to freeing up more of your time. Not only can technology help you communicate if you’re not on site or in the office, but it can also do a lot of the work for you. Spend some time researching what tools could be effective for your industry so that you can free up more time and spend it on taking your business to the next level.
Remember, the key to success isn’t just about working hard; it’s about working smart. Use these tips to help you make more time for your business!
