When you started a business, how did you imagine that you would spend your time? Thinking strategically? Networking? Innovating? Going on long vacations while your employees looked after the business?
I am sure that you pictured at least some of the above. But many business owners are surprised to find that the vast majority of their time is instead spent managing details—resolving employee disputes, fixing problems, dealing with angry customers. As a result, they don’t have the time to do what they truly love, or what they hoped they’d be doing as a business owner.
If you find yourself in this situation, below are several tips that will help:
1) Set the agenda for the day – don’t let the day set the agenda for you! Many business owners find themselves spending hours each day “putting out fires.” Work on training your employees to handle these unexpected events so that you can focus on your top priorities.
2) Set realistic, manageable big-picture goals. Oftentimes, business owners try to do too much from a big picture standpoint, and eventually give up out of frustration. You’re better off focusing on one item at a time—creating your new marketing plan, for instance, or working on a new approach to a single challenge.
3) Schedule time for pet projects and ideas. Schedule time regularly to pursue your ideas and your passions. Treat this time as non-negotiable, just as you would a meeting with an important client.
4) Delegate and empower employees. It will be difficult to accomplish the three points above if your employees are dependent on you for everything. Train them, empower them, and delegate responsibility to them—and you’ll find that they are able to handle many of the details, freeing up your time.
5) Hire professionals. Finally, there are tasks that can’t easily be delegated to employees—bookkeeping, for instance, in many cases. Rather than trying to manage complex tasks by yourself, consider delegating to a professional so that you can spend your time elsewhere.
Questions or comments? Would you like to learn more? Please get in touch with me today!