As a small business owner you wear many hats. Office
administration, marketing, sales, bookkeeping, advertising,
customer relations: it never ends. Your to-do list is growing as
quickly as your energy level is plummeting. Oh, and you need to
make more time for yourself and your family. There just isn’t
enough time!
And let’s not forget those goals you set for yourself. Weren’t
you going to dramatically increase your personal productivity?
Didn’t you promise yourself you’d grow your earning power? And
what about working on your self-esteem and getting more out of
life? After all, isn’t that why you went into business for
yourself in the first place?
You can manage your time better and reach your goals, if you
learn to avoid these Seven Deadly Productivity Killers.
Productivity Killer # 1 - Procrastination
We’re all guilty of it. But the upside of procrastination is that
it offers clues to the nature of the real problem. You might be
putting something off because you don’t have the expertise to
complete a task. Perhaps you haven’t found the best solution to
the problem yet. Maybe the task is too overwhelming. Or maybe you
just don’t like doing it.
Once you’ve figured out why you procrastinate, you can start
working on a solution. For example, if you’re overwhelmed, try
breaking up the task into smaller pieces and tackle them one by
one. If you don’t have the expertise for the task, or you hate
doing it, why not give the job to someone who has the know- how,
is good at it, and actually loves doing it?
Productivity Killer #2 - Multi-tasking
Most people, including me, try to do everything all at once. You
kid yourself that you’re getting lots done. But you’re not. When
nothing gets your full attention, errors creep in. In the long
run, you end up spending more time undoing those mistakes. Stop
trying to do it all at once. By giving your undivided attention
to one thing at a time, you’ll be much more productive.
Productivity Killer #3 - Spending Time on Tasks That Don’t
Produce Income
The hallmark of a successful entrepreneur is the ability to
delegate. Working on a difficult or boring chore quickly saps
your energy and enthusiasm. Admit that you’re not an expert at
everything! Give the job to the real experts. They can do it more
easily and cost-effectively, and you can get back to doing what
you do best.
The first step in deciding what to delegate is to determine the
most valuable use of your time. Always apply Pareto's Principle-
The 80/20 Rule. This rule states that 20 percent of your
activities produce 80 percent of your results. So, in
prioritizing your to-do list,determine which tasks are in your
top 20 percent by assessing their value to your life. When you’ve
identified the activities that generate the most income, you’ll
know which tasks to delegate.
Productivity Killer #4 - Lack of Planning
If you don’t know where you’re going, any path will take you
there. Stay focused by periodically re-evaluating your
objectives. Making a list of your goals helps. Thinking on paper
stimulates creativity and transforms fuzzy ideas into a clear and
concrete action plan. Reviewing the next day before you go to bed
is also effective. Your subconscious busily works on your goals
while you sleep, and you’ll wake up feeling in control and ready
to tackle your challenges.
Productivity Killer #5 - Handling Things More Than Once
Do it, Dump it, or Delegate it! Handle things only once by
evaluating every task that comes your way, decide what to do with
it, and prioritize your to-do list. Once you’ve started a task,
keep at it until it’s done. When you come back to an unfinished
task, you need to take extra time to re-familiarize yourself with
it and figure out where you left off.
Successfully completing a task, no matter how small, gives you a
great sense of accomplishment and encourages you to take on other
tasks that come your way.
Productivity Killer # 6 - Disorganization
Did you know that disorganization costs the average worker at
least one hour of productivity each day? Can you afford to lose
five hours a week? Of course not! Keeping your desk, files, and
work area clean and organized makes you more productive. You’ll
be more focused on the task at hand, find the things you need
more readily, and feel more in control of your life.
Productivity Killer # 7 - Lack of Balance in Your Life
If you’re like most people, you went into business for yourself
to get more enjoyment from life. Yet many people lose sight of
this goal. They become too preoccupied with the business, and end
up sacrificing their own and their family’s well being. Stress
builds up, they burn out, and productivity takes a nosedive. This
doesn’t have to happen to you!
Be sure to leave at least one day a week for leisure and being
with the people that are important to you. And take care of
yourself - set aside time each day to do something you enjoy.
When you lead a balanced life you’ll enjoy good health, have a
happy family life, and find peace of mind. Your business makes
many demands on you. But with determination and discipline, you
can strike the right balance!
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