Running a business is can be complicated. When you were employed you had multiple tasks to achieve in one day and you are not able to focus on one task, but they were all likely related, the same sort of things. If you were a graphic designer, your job involved designing things…of course you also had to attend meetings or fill out timesheets, but these were relatively easy to juggle. If you were a carpenter your job was to make things out of wood…again there would have been other calls on your time, but all within the scope of your skills.
As a business owner not only do you have multiple calls on your time, but these all involve different skills. Some of these are things that you know how to do, some of them are things that you are developing skills in and sometimes you will have to learn entirely new skills!
In order to complete tasks well you need to focus on them, especially if the Task is new to you, or outside of your comfort zone, but with so much to do the question is ‘How do you focus on one task at a time in your business?’ Here are my top five tips!
Time Analysis
Until you know exactly what you are spending your time on it is impossible to structure your time effectively. ActionCoachActionCOACH have a great tool called the ‘??‘Time Audit’. We recommend that you keep a record of what you do every 30 minutes of your working day for two weeks. This might seem like a lot of work when you are busy to start with, but it really does offer invaluable insights into what you spend your time doing and how effective you are.
Best Time of Day
As well as assessing the tasks you carry out and the time it takes to do them it is important to look at what days and times are best for specific tasks and you need to focus on one task. For example, you might be better at tasks that require creativity first thing in the morning. If you hate finances, you may need to get these tasks done at the beginning of the week rather than leaving them until the end (and then putting them off).
Join the NoLimits Business Community
Are you a business owner looking to take your business to the next level? Join our innovative community of like-minded professionals and gain access to a wealth of valuable resources, including a community portal to chat with other business owners, ebooks, business development software, and growth events that will transform the way you do business. Best of all, these resources are completely free and will be available to you forever.
But the benefits of joining our NoLimits business community don’t stop there. By becoming part of our community, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other business owners, share insights and ideas, and build valuable relationships that will help your business thrive. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to supercharge your business and join us today!
Time Blocking
Now you know what you do and how long it takes you can create a ‘Default Diary’ with all your tasks assigned specific days and times. You could allocate 30 minutes every morning to self-development; reading a book or listening to a podcast. You could assign Monday mornings to finances. You could decide that all client appointments will take place on Wednesdays and Fridays or that you will only do 121’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Enter any repeating events such as networking meetings or team huddles. Be sure to include personal commitments, such as school runs, going to the gym or spending quality time with family or friends.
Task Management Tool
It really helps to use a tool to remind you of the Tasks you need to carry out and prioritise them. This could be a simple piece of paper that you fill out each day and tick off as you achieve things, but in this age of technology there are lots of brilliant solutions and many of them are completely free. With an app or online Task Management tool you can set Tasks to repeat; Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annually. You can set deadlines by which Tasks need to be completed. You can even add Team members and assign Tasks to other people.
Do not Disturb
Last, but not least don’t be afraid to put your Do Not Disturb on…messages, calls and emails are very rarely actually urgent…most things can wait an hour or so. If you were in a meeting with a client or prospect you would never consider answering messages, emails or taking calls from other people. Value your time like you value other people’s….if you are engaged in a Task put your Do Not Disturb on!
I hope these tips help you to focus on one Task you need to get done in your business. ActionCoach ActionCOACH have lots of great Time Management Tools. Why not check out our Resources section, or if you are a member jump on one of the Coaching Sessions if you have a specific question
By Duncan McKechnie
Join the NoLimits Business Community
Are you a business owner looking to take your business to the next level? Join our innovative community of like-minded professionals and gain access to a wealth of valuable resources, including a community portal to chat with other business owners, ebooks, business development software, and growth events that will transform the way you do business. Best of all, these resources are completely free and will be available to you forever.
But the benefits of joining our NoLimits business community don’t stop there. By becoming part of our community, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other business owners, share insights and ideas, and build valuable relationships that will help your business thrive. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to supercharge your business and join us today!