How to improve your daily business life
A day in the life of your business will vary dramatically from days in other businesses. You know your business better than anyone. You need to be on the lookout for how you can make your day-to-day activities easier and more efficient. It’s also prudent to consider what you’re doing each day and whether it moves you closer to your goals. The danger is that the busier you get, the less efficient your business could become.
Here are a few tips that may help, in some small way, to improve a day in your business life:
- Time management. Occasionally, keep track in more detail of where you spend your time. If you are service-based, how many hours are you billing and how many hours attract no revenue? Are you wasting too much time doing things that add little value?
- Keep an eye on the dollars. Cash is your lifeblood, so keep an eye on it as often as you can.
- Remember your wellbeing. Set yourself some rules on how you intend to look after your wellbeing and do your best to stick to them. These could be as simple as turning your phone off at 6pm. Picking up the kids from school more often. Going for your daily walk or run. Meeting a friend for coffee once a week. Doing a daily gym session. Scheduling in meditation and so on.
- Inventory. What’s happening with your inventory? If it’s rising or falling abnormally, it may give you an early indication of the health of your business.
- Planning. Put processes in place that visibly lay out the plans for the day, week, month and year. This is particularly important when you have other staff who all need to know what needs to be done, what the priorities are, the deadlines, what to communicate to customers and ensure nothing is missed or forgotten.
- Trend your KPIs. When you set your key performance indicators in your business plan, consider only those that make a real difference and make them measurable. Keep a regular eye on them, observing how they are trending, whether or not they are improving.
- Talk to your customers. They will decide your fate. Keep in touch with them in the easiest way you can.
- Talk to your staff. Even if there are only a few of you, work at your communication. Catch up regularly so you all know what’s going on.
- Spend time on the business. Set aside a little time each month to look at the business, rather than only working in the business.
- Look out for waste. Anywhere materials or time are used that add no value to the business or your customers are regarded as waste. Identify and remove it as soon as you can.
- Keep the place tidy. If you work in a mess, it is likely your business will be as well, or it will be perceived to be so by staff and customers.
- Celebrate your successes. You may frequently find that you and your team are too busy to reflect on how well you’re going. Fit in time to celebrate your successes. You deserve it!
A little time every now and then spent looking for waste and removing it could have a huge benefit on the efficiency of your business, not to mention your sanity!
If you feel like your business is getting the best of you, take back your life, and your livelihood and contact us today. We offer a free, no-obligation meeting. Simply fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch. We look forward to helping you achieve the success you seek.
