A business owner is knowledgeable about a lot of things. They must know their industry and the people within it. They must also be schooled in marketing, money management and other business-related fields.
But if they are not well organized, they may as well throw all that knowledge out the window. Disorganization wastes both time and money, making a business much more likely to fail.
So, what can you do to get more organized with your business to help ensure success? Here are a few tips.
1. Declutter
Decluttering may seem like the most obvious way to become organized, but you may be surprised how many business owners become overwhelmed with meetings, paperwork, equipment, etc. With all it takes to own and run a business, it is easy to find oneself in a disorganized mess. Clutter can also accumulate in a digital form, on computers and in email inboxes.
If you are unable to find things, it will cost you time, and wasted time is ultimately wasted money. You also want to avoid looking unprofessional if you can’t find important documents in a timely manner when dealing with a client or customer.
Fortunately, decluttering is not hard to do. Go through your documents and emails on a regular basis and get rid of the things you don’t need. Create digital and physical filing systems to ensure everything is well organized and easy to find.
2. Keep a Calendar
A calendar will help you stay on track and help you meet your goals. Your calendar should not only include the meetings you have scheduled, but it should also list tasks that will help you accomplish what you need to get done.
For example, if you are trying to meet a sales goal, you may have important tasks that will help you reach that goal. These tasks may include creating and launching a marketing campaign, gathering leads, making phone calls and more. These should all be added to your calendar, so you complete them according to plan and in a timely fashion.
Be sure to update your calendar on a regular basis. This will allow you to schedule things you haven’t gotten done to another day, and it will help you focus on priorities that may have come up last minute.
3. Take Notes During Meetings
Taking notes during a meeting will give you something to refer to and it will help store key points in your memory. While most people count on digital tools for notetaking, others find that they can write faster than they can type. If you find typing to be timelier, this may be your preferred method for recording your own minutes.
4. Send Emails to Yourself
Ever have an idea come to mind that you want to carry out but don’t want to make a priority? Sending an email to yourself is a great way to do it. The next time you open your email, review those you have sent to yourself and see if you can knock them out quickly, or if they need to be scheduled in the next few days.
A reminder app can serve a similar purpose and may be a preferred method for some people.
5. Hire a Staff
As a business owner, you’ll find yourself with a lot on your hands and a shortage of time. Delegating duties will help you keep on top of everything.
Of course, not every business has the budget to hire a staff, but if you have any wiggle room, it could be the best investment you make. An executive assistant can keep you well organized, saving you time. Additional employees can take care of marketing, budgeting, and other tasks, helping your company run like a well-oiled machine.
6. Go Digital as Much as Possible
Paper files are not only a waste of natural resources, they are also easy to lose. Do yourself a favor and store as many documents as you can in your computer. With everything being searchable, you’ll find things quickly and easily. Just be sure to back everything up, so you’ll be covered in the event of a crash.
7. Cut Back on the Apps
Apps are invaluable in the business world, but if you download them often, you’ll find that you have so many on your phone that it’s difficult to find the ones you need the most. Go through your phone on a regular basis to delete the apps that you don’t use. An uncluttered phone screen makes for an uncluttered mind.
8. Devote Certain Days to Certain Tasks
Devoting certain days to certain tasks will get you well prepared for what’s ahead of you. For example, Monday and Tuesday may be devoted to marketing. Wednesday and Thursday may be your day to do the budgets. Or if you have different business locations, Monday may be your day to go into the south office while Tuesday may be your day to go into the west office.
When you get used to doing specific things on specific days, you will be more likely to keep tabs on your responsibilities.
9. Respond to Emails as Soon as You Open Them
Most business owners set aside a time of day to go through their emails. Not every email can be answered promptly, but if you are ready to respond, do so. It will make you look more professional to the recipient, and it will be another task you can cross off your list.
10. Take Breaks
Taking breaks may seem like a waste of time, but research shows that microbreaks of five to fifteen minutes every 2 to 3 hours allow you to return to work more focused and ready to take on what’s ahead of you. It will help you tackle your tasks in a more organized fashion.
11. Know When to Multitask
Multitasking was once a popular way to do business, but more recently, it’s been found to result in the completion of two or more tasks with subpar results. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have it’s time and place. For instance, if you take public transportation, that could be a great time to make phone calls or work on ideas. When the phone rings, use it as a chance to hop up from your desk and get your blood circulating.
Being well educated about your industry and how to sell it is a major bonus. But it won’t mean a thing if you are not organized. The tips in this article will help you keep your company running efficiently so you have more time to reach your goals and increase your revenue. What organizational steps do you take to boost business?
