Do I need to develop a time management plan for my business?

03 September 2018

Are you doing the things you should be doing within your business? If not, do you feel frustrated that your business isn’t moving forward? Are you experiencing any of the following issues as a result of time management problems?

  • Lack of focus and prioritisation
  • Missed deadlines and appointments
  • Poor quality of work
  • Wasted time
  • Lack of professionalism
  • Relationships between staff strained
  • Wasteful meetings
  • Financial problems
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I feel that I am not focussing on the important aspects of my business. What can I do?

If you feel that you are unable to focus on the most important aspects of your business and you feel frustrated that you cannot move the business forward, the solution is simple… the development of a time management plan.

A time management plan ensures that you have the most important tasks planned into your calendar that you can always keep and are always accountable for. As a result, you can feel more focussed and in control of your day. There are some specific ways in which you can schedule your time effectively.

How can I schedule my time effectively?

Develop a routine. Block out time based on activity and stick to it. Anything that hasn’t been planned, don’t complete. If you want free time, make sure to plan it. Although your routine may change throughout the year, try your best to plan it.

Group calls and meetings into blocks. E.g. If you need to attend external meetings, block a specified amount of time each week for this. And do the same for internal ones too. This way, you will have enough time to complete work. Do the same thing for calls as well.

Arrange time for different types of meetings. Use 10-minute calls to offer quick advice. This is because of the time limitation, people tend to get more to the point. Additionally, if you are meeting someone for the first time, try and do the meeting at the office rather than going out for lunch and coffee. Because these types of meetings are more productive here.

Make use of appointments. Some calendars allow you to divide slots into appointments. For example, three-hour slots can be subdivided into three meetings. Send links to your clients allowing them to book time suitable for both them and you. This saves the monotony of having to send constant emails.

Block time for email. Make sure that you aren’t attached to your emails all the time. Instead, make sure that you schedule specific time to deal with emails.

Plan family and exercise time. Make sure that you plan at least three periods of time per week dedicated to exercise. Also make sure that you don’t eat into family time.

Manage your time. Although you could allow someone else to manage your time, it is always good to manage your time yourself. As you can plan your schedule exactly how you would like it to see. This can ensure you do not feel overwhelmed and stressed.

How can I determine whether I need to create a time management plan for my business?

Ask yourself:

  • What things you are spending your time on during your working day?
  • What system do you have in place to make sure you’re doing the most important things each day?
  • How do you delegate tasks to others and review your task list?
  • How do you ensure that you are working on important tasks rather than responding to day-to-day issues?
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Summary

Are you focussing on the most important tasks within your business? Are you frustrated it isn’t moving forward? Perhaps you experiencing problems as a result of time management? The development of a time management plan can help resolve these issues. Having a time management plan in place ensures you have the most important tasks planned and will make you feel more focussed and in control. However, there are some specific ways in which your time can be scheduled effectively.

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