Productivity Tips for Small Business Owners
Published February 07, 2019 (last updated August 16, 2023)
Laurence McLean - NZ Operations Manager
How can busy small business owners take back their time and get the most from their working day?
MINIMISE INTERRUPTIONS
- Turn off your mobile phone.
- Shut down your email.
- Turn off notifications.
- Tell your colleagues of your plans for the day and ask they leave you alone.
- Activate Do Not Disturb on your calendar.
HUDDLE MEETINGS (5-10 minutes)
- Schedule a time to have a daily meeting.
- Allow team members to say what they are doing for the day.
- Discuss challenges.
WORKING SPACE
- Allow staff to work elsewhere if possible (this could be going to a café).
- Consider separate offices, rather than open plan.
KNOW YOURSELF
- If you know your strengths, weaknesses and working preferences, you can understand your staff better.
SET GOALS
- What do you want to achieve (specific goals).
- Tell everyone.
- Revise it regularly.
- Put a timeline on it.
EAT AN ELEPHANT ONE BITE AT A TIME
- Work out what is needed to achieve your goal.
- Is it necessary?
- Learn to delegate.
These tips originally appeared on Employsure’s Better Business Podcast. Download the episode here.
About Employsure
Employsure is one of New Zealand’s largest workplace relations advisers to small and medium businesses, with over 5,500 clients. We take the complexity out of workplace legislation to help small business employers protect their business and their people.
