Working in a small business has its benefits: it’s exciting, dynamic, and fast-paced. As any small business owner knows, staying productive under these conditions is challenging, but not impossible. Here are some strategies by productivity consultants for remaining productive as an employee or team leader at a small business.
Set Realistic Goals
To begin with, try to set realistic goals for your productivity. If you think you can do everything – reach your company’s revenue goals, write a novel, and launch a new website. Try setting mini-goals for yourself such as drafting one blog post a week or writing one chapter a month. It’s easier to focus on achieving these smaller goals when you’re struggling to find the motivation to do anything at all. If you find it hard to stay focused at work, try setting a timer to keep you on track. It’s been shown that the ticking sound of a timer induces a kind of panic that keeps us from losing focus.
Establish Small Wins
Another way to stay productive is to break down your larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. Doing this can help you stay on track and feel more accomplished, which are important factors in keeping you motivated.
Designate Business Hours
If you’re in a position where you supervise employees, you may find this one helpful. At the outset of the day, designate certain hours as business hours. These are the hours during which you will discuss business-related activities, such as discussing strategy and planning, attending meetings, and answering emails.
Enforce a No-slowing Rule
This is another rule you can set for small business productivity. There should be no slowing down or wasting time in your business. In fact, slowing down might be one of the most common mistakes small business owners make that keeps you from being productive.
Whatever you do, try not to let your business affect your personal life. Keep your work and home life separate as much as possible, and don’t let your stress at work trickle over into your home life. This will help you stay productive and sane, even in a small business environment. Besides these strategies, there are some other things you can do to stay productive. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and taking time to recharge. And don’t forget to take breaks – it’s important to take some time to refresh yourself, even if you don’t have enough time to do it all at once.
