Time is of the essence when you are a small business owner. There are countless matters to be looked into, and investing in time provides opportunities to grow your business. It’s no longer a question of finding time, because you would never have enough, but what is the best way to make time?
If you’re exploring and experimenting with different time management methods, check out the following tips. Time management does not begin with following a schedule – instead, it begins with setting the right schedule for you.
1. Create a productive environment
It’s the start of the day, and you’re on task: you’re determined to clear a huge stack of work today. Yet, there are always distractions that come between you and a task – whether it’s calls, emails or text messages. Remove all the distractions from your environment. Turn your phone notifications off, and set a timer to focus on one task at hand before moving on to the next.
Pay attention to how organised your physical space is, which can impact your mental space and the ability to produce efficient work. Tactics like colour-coded file folders, and designated trays for incoming and outgoing documents help you find what you need whenever you need it. Keep your desk free of clutter so you can maintain a balanced headspace for optimal productivity.
2. Schedule for personal and collaborative tasks
If there are numerous tasks that require your attention, set time limits and do your best to adhere to the schedule. For personal tasks, you can perhaps leave them for the lunch break to complete. Not bringing these personal matters back to the office also ensures that your mind stays focused on your business.
On the other hand, attempt time-blocking for collaborative tasks with your employees. Consider having a weekly Monday meeting to check in with them, allowing them to propose ideas, catch up with the status of the project, or seek help from you.
3. Delegate your work to your team
Check your to-do list – you may find that some tasks do not require as much attention as the rest. Think about delegating your work to the rest of your team so you can focus on the essentials. But they should also be prepped and trained for the task so they can get the job done properly. This starts by hiring the right people and investing in time to train and hone their skills.
Of course, delegating also extends to outsourcing your tasks to specialised services. Accounting is an important function for your business, but you may not have the experience to do it yourself or the funds to hire full-time. This is where companies that provide corporate accounting services come in to ease your load.
At Ackenting Group, we understand your priority in making strategic plans for your business to stay competitive and maximise opportunities. We provide affordable accounting services fees without compromising quality – taking the time to understand your business while keeping to every deadline. With more than ten years in auditing and accounting across various industries, our highly experienced team will customise a solution for your business.
4. Avoid the temptation to multi-task
People often mistake the solution to dealing with time shortage is to handle as many tasks as possible to maximise the hour. However, it can do more harm than good. When you focus on one task at a time, this increases productivity and performance. In contrast, when you’re trying to micromanage every issue while multi-tasking, you are not giving the attention each task deserves. You are constantly shifting mental gears, which can cause even more stress and potentially produce errors in your work.
Conclusion
As a small business owner, it’s crucial to plan your time well to build your business effectively. Experiment with the above tips to find out what works for you – an investment in time only reaps more time.
If you require any assistance on accounting services, feel free to drop us an email at johnwoo@ag-singapore.com or contact us at +65-66358767. At Ackenting Group, we offer a complimentary 30 minutes online consultation for us to better understand your business requirements.
