 |
| Productivity |
Managing all the tasks and responsibilities that we have
each day can be a real challenge. How do
you decide what to do first? How will
you ever be able to tackle everything that’s coming at you?
We have all had those days where we find ourselves with too
much to do and not enough time. You feel
like you’re drowning in work, right?
There are a few key things to think about before you start
digging in.
· Resources - Who do I need to work with in order to move forward? Can I delegate this?
· Tools - Do I have access to the computer program I need to complete this task? Is there a phone or connection available?
Considering your
available time, resources and tools before deciding what to do with something
can help you to group tasks together and accomplish more. For example, when you have a phone available
and quiet, you could call all 6 people on your list back more efficiently than
if you made 6 scattered calls throughout the day.
There’s a great book
that has made a tremendous impact on my daily workflow and productivity. It is Getting Things Done – The Art of Stress FreeProductivity by David Allen. Make it the next book you read and I’ll bet
you’ll find yourself inspired to become more productive and in control of your
day, like I was.
Below are some other simple daily tips to keep you
organized, fresh and on top of your business.
· Review any new emails - you may need to catch up on something from the day before or start right away on a new task.
· Choose which inquiries you will respond to first. Make any client “fires” or emergency items top of the list. If it’s only going to take a few minutes, go ahead and knock it out.
· Assess your current project list. What action needs to be taken next? Are you waiting on a response from somebody else to proceed? If so, reach out again so you can move forward.
· Plan for long term or ongoing projects - decide how much time you are going to spend on various projects and then stick to your time frame!
· Include time for maintaining client relationships - have you touched based with your clients and prospects lately? Send a card, or a quick email follow-up. Keeping your name in front of your clients and partners is good for business. Since you’re reading this blog, you’re probably already a CRM rockstar, but just in case you’re not familiar…there are wonderful tools out there for business called CRM’s or Customer Relationship Management systems. AddressTwo, the simple crm, is a great one. Use it to it’s fullest and you will enjoy a growing business and a dynamic network.
Realistically, you may not meet your goal every day, but
being perpetually dis-organized, distracted and unproductive is a sure fire way
to lose clients and kill your business.
Aim high, study up and get some productivity tools like AddressTwo to
help you reach your goals. Now, go…conquer
your day!
-------
Another Great Guest Blog from our Friends at Imagine Virtual Assistant Service. An administrative support service for small business. Well versed in all things MS Office, and social media, Imagine Virtual Assistance can provide help with management of calendars and contacts, travel arrangements, party planning, and even help with your AddressTwo CRM account. Need more tips? Check out their website: www.imaginevirtualassistantservice.com
