Only some businesses are continually growing at an even, predictable speed. Success isn’t always linear, for many, some months or quarters bear more fruit than others.
Like most businesses, you’ll have moments when productivity is lower, such as when your marketing team is struggling to create new campaign ideas or your sales team is not securing as many new customers as desired. That said, productivity is whatever you define it as per your KPIs and results.
Here are some ways small businesses can help ramp up productivity ‒
Make sure your goals are clear and manageable
The more transparent the goal, the more clearly your staff can understand what steps they need to take to achieve them. When people have a clear idea of what they want to accomplish, they can direct their energy and resources toward actual progress, rather than wasting time on less critical tasks. Be sure to promote planning, communication and organization, so people aren’t lost figuring out their steps, allowing more time for productivity.
Invest in the right technology
Many softwares are designed with time savings in mind. For example, many help bridge disparate systems by providing integrations or performing multiple duties on one screen, and/or using artificial intelligence to help you design your slides, write your copy or source better leads for sales. Using such tools can help you and your staff work more efficiently, saving several minutes that would have been used toggling between screens or systems or spent manually handling something that can be automated.
Delegate tasks to the right people
Delegating tasks allows owners and managers to focus on high-level tasks that require their expertise, while team members focus on the tasks they are skilled at. To choose the right team members, it’s essential to understand the skillset each individual really brings to the table, beyond just what’s on their resume. Speaking to your team and having regular check-ins can help with this, especially if you ask them for their opinions on how they’d like their role to grow or how they can better contribute to the company.
Assigning tasks to the team members who can complete them the most effectively can help save your organization time as a whole, as the right people are more likely to identify time-saving solutions to any roadblocks, leading to greater success.
Be careful and concise with meetings
You’ve probably heard of the “that meeting could have been an email” trope. Have you ever had such a meeting before? If so, carefully decide which in-person or virtual meetings could be resolved by a well-written email, voice message or video. If you are unsure how to convey a specific message outside of a meeting format but think it’s possible, slow down and consider what pertinent details the recipient will need.
Sometimes thinking of the who-what-where-when-why and how approach can point you in the right direction. Additionally, be sure to communicate next steps or how best to follow up with you on any questions that may arise. .
Keep everything organized
When organizing your files, think “if a completely new team member were to join our team, would they be able to intuitively find the information they need without much training? What if we were a bigger business with hundreds of team members?” If the answers are no, then consider organizing your files so your team can find them easily, saving them the time of the hunt. This may require some time and communication to ensure everyone has the necessary systems access and permissions.
Try productivity techniques, such as Pomodoro
If you feel like you and your staff need a little extra boost to get you going, consider trying approaches such as the Pomodoro Technique. If meetings are a must, look into a standup meeting. You can also review your current processes to see if there are opportunities to improve communication or workflows. Choose a starting point that makes sense for the nature of your operations and try it out. You may even want to test it personally before suggesting it to your staff. A shared productivity hack can also help your team grow closer by keeping each other accountable.
If your business can implement at least some of the above tips, you’re likely to see that you’ll be streamlining your operations, optimizing your time management and increasing your overall efficiency. Overall, productivity is not just about working harder, but also working smarter to figure out the most efficient, innovative working styles that make the most effective use of your time.
Author: Christina Nguyen
What are some strategies for giving your business a productivity boost? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
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About Stingray Advisory Group LLC: Stingray Advisory Group LLC is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is a proud member of Local First and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We help businesses grow. By creating customized solutions, we empower businesses and entrepreneurs with the tools to further their development.
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