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As a business owner, you’re responsible for making your business the best it can be. But you don’t have to spend big bucks to make your business better.
Here are nine simple strategies to improve efficiency, increase productivity and grow your business…without breaking the bank.
1. Own your schedule
With a business relying on you, time is your biggest asset, so structure your day to prioritise productive activities.
This could mean setting your alarm an hour earlier, or blocking out an hour every afternoon to focus on new business opportunities. Find a schedule which works for you and stick to it to maximise what you can achieve.
2. Ban distractions
Picture the scene: your phone is buzzing, your family is trying to organise dinner for Friday night, there are fifty emails in your inbox… and it’s only 9.30am.
We live in an age of information overload, so you need to be able to ban distractions and focus on the task at hand.
There are apps which monitor your computer and web usage and help you understand how much time you spend on email, social media or in Microsoft Word, for example. They can also temporarily block pages not contributing to your productivity. Ahem, Facebook.
3. Get visual
There’s nothing better than visual cues to make sure everyone in your business is on the same page.
For example, a simple whiteboard showing the sales pipeline and the current status of key projects is an effective way to keep everyone accountable, and a great place to host impromptu brainstorming sessions.
4. Surround yourself with smart people
As the saying goes, ‘if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room’.
People who are not afraid to challenge the status quo or come up with new, innovative ways of doing things will be better for your business than ‘yes’ men or women.
5. Find a mentor
It’s lonely at the top, and without a support network you can quickly find yourself out of your depth.
Go out of your way to find a mentor to confide in, bounce ideas off or simply ask for advice. They don’t have to be in the same business or even industry; the important thing is that you trust them.
6. Network
Contacts win business and create opportunities, so put yourself out there at industry events, conferences or trade shows.
Who knows what a chance meeting at an awards dinner could lead to.
7. Communicate
Both employees and customers will be more engaged with your business if they know what’s going on.
You’re on a journey together, so take your most important stakeholders with you.
8. Trust other people
Trying to take on every task yourself means you’ll have less time to focus on the important stuff (which you’re probably better at in any case).
Delegate and outsource where possible to create room in your day for the things you do best.
9. Give yourself a break
The final piece of the puzzle is to making your business run better is your health and wellbeing.
Simply getting enough rest, eating well and making time for exercise will help your mind stay sharp and keep you at your most productive.
Running a small business is easier when you have the right partners. We’re one of Australia’s most experienced retailers - check out our online small business quote tool.
