{"id":26264,"date":"2017-04-20T04:30:26","date_gmt":"2017-04-20T08:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/creator\/creator\/?p=26264"},"modified":"2020-02-26T14:31:40","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T19:31:40","slug":"time-management-small-business-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/professional-development\/time-management-small-business-owners","title":{"rendered":"Time management for small business owners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you\u2019re a first-time entrepreneur or a longtime small business owner, you know that time is one of your biggest assets. After a month of poor performance or supply chain issues, you can always bounce back and do better the next month. But you can never recover lost time. When you don\u2019t manage your time well, you don\u2019t complete tasks, you struggle to meet goals, and your business suffers as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most business owners, failing to manage time properly typically falls into a few common categories. If you\u2019re prone to multitasking, you might try to complete a simple project but find yourself falling behind after countless distractions. If you don\u2019t set smart goals, you might fail to get key information from calls or meetings. And if you start each day without a plan, you\u2019ll never know exactly where you\u2019re headed, which can spell disaster for your to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adopting key time management strategies is the key to success for entrepreneurs and small business owners alike. Discover five steps for improving small business time management and find out how you can apply these suggestions to your workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Plan your day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most helpful tasks you can do to improve your time management is also one of the easiest tasks you can do. If you tend to start each day untethered and unsure about what you\u2019ll be working on, you need a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than doing this planning in the morning or when you start your workday, many time management experts recommend creating a plan for the following day at the end of the previous workday. Since you\u2019ll already have the day\u2019s most pressing issues on your mind, you\u2019ll be in a good place to prioritize the next day\u2019s tasks based on what you didn\u2019t complete and which issues arose during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can plan out your day on paper, on your laptop, or on your smart device, but whatever you do, make sure that you create a written record of your plan. Start by prioritizing potential tasks in order of urgency and mark the amount of time you\u2019ll need to spend on each one. Then review your to-do list and consider whether you can hand over any tasks to colleagues instead. Then, keep your schedule nearby throughout the workday and cross off each item as you complete it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While time management experts tend to recommend sticking to your plan no matter what, you may need to leave a small margin for error. For example, if you tend to receive many email, phone calls, or other messages after the business day ends, you may need to leave time to assess and address these communications on the following workday. Rather than allowing the previous evening\u2019s messages to take over your workday, allot yourself 15, 30, or 60 minutes to skim through them and add them to your list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Remove distractions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For entrepreneurs, one of the most challenging aspects of running a small business is handling distractions throughout the workday. When you work with a small team, you\u2019ll undoubtedly find yourself pulled in several directions at once. You might be the CEO, but you\u2019ll inevitably have to deal with marketing, sales, and community-building issues from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to build a positive work culture, you may also have an open-door policy with your employees. Although this approach can lay the foundation for an engaged, transparent workplace, it doesn\u2019t always bode well for your productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eliminating distractions is essential for small business time management. Start by closing your office door for designated periods each day. Turn off notifications for emails and messages, and resist the temptation to check them every few minutes. Do the same for phone calls, even if you need to turn off your smartphone or office phone and send calls to voicemail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, set aside an hour or two in your schedule to read and respond to emails, return calls, or check in with staff members. If you receive any non-urgent messages, don\u2019t hesitate to add them to tomorrow\u2019s schedule instead. After all, not every email requires an immediate response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Adopt an organizational method<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you continually struggle with knowing which tasks to prioritize, you aren\u2019t alone. Choose from one of several prioritization and organization methods to get your to-do list on track and make scheduling much less painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n