Running a business is hard. There is a never-ending list of tasks you need to complete.
Unfortunately for small business owners, there are only so many hours in a day. That’s a big problem because trying to do everything will leave you overwhelmed.
You need to maximize your output. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to supercharge the productivity output of your small business.
Here’s a helpful set of productivity tips you can try out immediately, giving you better control and planning of your and your team’s work-related tasks.
Best Small Business Owner Productivity Tips
1. One task at a time
Overloading yourself and your workforce with competing work, deadlines, and projects doesn't do anyone any good and leads to high stress and confusion.
Despite some people boasting that they can multitask, science doesn't support their claims. One study on productivity conducted by the Cleveland Clinic showed that:
Instead of getting your team to multitask, try advising them to write to-do lists, prioritizing the critical tasks first and ensuring that everything gets done in its own time.
To foster performance, reinforce the importance of finishing one task properly before moving on to the next. Also, don't forget to organize files on your device and desk, as a clean work environment positively impacts productivity.
Productivity tips should nudge workers toward greater efficiency, benefiting your small business's operations. But, of course, productivity tips are just the tip of the iceberg if you want to give your small business a boost.
2. Improve collaboration within teams
Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say! With this in mind, it's always a good idea to streamline your small team's sharing and collaboration processes for everyone’s benefit.
One easy way to action this enhanced level of collaboration is to invest in software that does much of your hard work.
Examples include instant messaging software and reliable access to documents that can be edited in real-time (such as Google Sheets and Google Docs).
You can also use reliable video conferencing software for remote workers or self-isolating staff (MS Teams, Google Meet, and these Zoom alternatives all work well).
Source: https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/158DB/production/_111438288_zoommeeting.jpg
Collaboration doesn't just increase productivity; it also boosts staff satisfaction.
Don't become the latter statistic; invest in the right tech for your team. For example, have a platform for while ensuring collaboration is as smooth as possible.
These productivity tips will benefit your small business in the short, medium, and long term and are one small part of the overall plan to set SMART business goals.
3. Try automation
Many people think that automation means replacing your entire workforce with robots and tech tools.
Instead, some excellent automation tools can do all the tedious jobs while your workforce gets on with the important stuff, such as lead generation.
Maintaining a social media posting schedule and collating expense reports are tasks that particular software can easily handle.
Workforce management systems such as Asana or Slack can make it easy to schedule tasks and keep everyone on the same page with timetables and project files.
For instance, check the pricing of Asana to see if it suits your budget.
Technology can be a wonderful thing, and when used correctly, it can transform your business's productivity in a few simple steps.
4. Avoid distractions
Humans aren’t so great at focusing on tasks for hours at a time. Repeated studies show that most people struggle to concentrate in meetings for extended periods.
With this in mind, it's too easy to allow distractions in the workplace to keep your team from getting the job done. You can use light indicators to visually show if you are busy or available, minimizing interruptions.
We’re not suggesting draconian measures, but a few productivity tips here and there make a difference.
For instance, try restricting email to specific times of day—first thing in the morning or late afternoon—so everyone can forget about email during peak working hours.
Likewise, restricting access to social media could make a difference, as could reducing the number of pointless team meetings.
Meetings that aren't relevant to everyone can cause workers to lose focus and slip into bad habits. Instead, try having just one meeting a day at the same time so essential details are ironed out without disrupting the entire day.
According to a study performed by Udemy and Toluna, the number one most annoying office distraction was chatty co-workers!
Think of ways around this by speaking with the noisier members of your team or placing them in different rooms.
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Cutting down on office noise is also important. Why not schedule “quiet hours,” where everyone agrees to work silently for a set period?
If adhered to, these focus sessions could become the most productive times of the day. Try different ideas to see which productivity tips work best for your team.
5. Manage your time well
Time management is key to completing tasks effectively. Using workflow software such as Asana will help streamline tasks at your company.
Many companies also use a clock-in, clock-out app.
Additionally, implementing a leave management system or absence-tracking software can provide insights into availability and help manage leaves and absences.
Time tracking software can help teams stay on track; such tools offer data on how working hours are spent, generate productivity reports, track attendance online, and show how productive each team member is.
But to get the most out of these tools, productivity best practices should be implemented.
One such method is the Pomodoro Technique—an effective time-management system created in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo.
- Choose the work project you need to complete.
- Set a timer for 25–30 minutes and start work.
- After the timer buzzes, take a 2–3 minute break.
- Repeat steps two and three.
- After four sessions, take a longer break.
- Record each completed session with a tick or checkmark.
Source: https://luxafor.com/
Consider trialing the Pomodoro Technique with colleagues and track the results in productivity levels and time management.
You can also experiment with different working patterns—for example, a rotating shift pattern can boost productivity.
6. Create a favorable workspace
Messy and uncomfortable workstations make for unhappy workers.
Your workers need an efficient workspace to carry out their jobs effectively, so consider investing in equipment that suits each worker.
For staff working heavily with figures, a second monitor can help with spreadsheets.
Remote workers like digital marketers need strong internet access and webcams. Meanwhile, graphic designers need specialist drawing software and a stylus.
Source: https://lpguard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LPGuards-Best-Monitors-Under-200-In-2021.png
Try asking each employee what they need to feel more productive, budgeting appropriately, and putting those steps into practice where possible.
While employees state their preferences, ensure alignment with labor cost percentages.
7. Set realistic goals
Setting realistic goals for yourself and your team is essential. Break big jobs into achievable chunks rather than overwhelming employees with too much at once.
This way, everyone feels they are working steadily toward the desired outcome.
Start by identifying the desired result, then work backward to break it down into small, manageable steps.
Planning is everything, especially in a small business that may lack the resources available to larger companies.
In Closing
Performance improvements are critical to long-term business success. However, just because your business is small doesn’t mean you should find things harder than large corporations.
Research shows that small businesses can be more resourceful and efficient, so use your size to your advantage when setting realistic goals.
Take these productivity tips into account, try them out, and measure the outcome through increased performance and workforce happiness.
We wish you luck with the future of your small business!
