5 Productivity Tips for Small Businesses
Business owners are always looking for the most efficient and productive systems. Why? Because it’s one of the keys to success!
It makes a lot of sense - when we are more productive and efficient, we get more done in less time. When we get more done, we feel more fulfilled, which in turn motivates us to keep going. And all of that efficiency and energy can add up to bigger deposits and more importantly, a richer, fuller life!
So managing our time wisely and learning to prioritize the most important tasks is key if we want to be our best CEO selves and lead remarkable businesses.
Vision first, productivity second.
Before we dig into some productivity tips that you can implement right away, let’s get one thing straight. Productivity is worthless if you aren’t really clear on your vision. So you’re going to need to check that box first.
Think about it: who cares how quickly you get to a destination if you realize it’s not at all where you wanted to be?
To use another analogy, it’s hard to hit the target if you don’t know where to aim. Sure, you might get lucky and hit the bullseye. But the odds aren’t in your favor, so it’s going to be harder to secure a win.
It’s the same in business. You could reach 6 figures without a clear vision and plan, but 99.9% of the time, that’s going to be a tougher journey.
Avery helps us define big goals in a clear way.
Here at the Upleveler Society, we’re all about working smarter, not harder, and Avery helps us stay focused on our vision and our big goals with functional products that we reach for every single day.
We suggest using the Avery Print & Apply Clear Label Dividers to create a manual for your company, and divide the sections into Vision, Operations, HR, Marketing, Sales, and more. The labels print in minutes and apply in seconds. Not a single moment is wasted!
Now under the “Visions” section, ask yourself key questions like, “What do we do?” “What impact do we make?” “Where will we be in 5 years? And “Where do we want to be in 10 years?” Get really clear on the vision, and make sure everyone else who works for you can easily access it and get clear, too.
We create custom workbooks using Avery labels for our clients, too. Based on their needs, we may create labels for things like their Vision, Money Matters, Instagram Strategy, and Systems. There’s nothing like being able to actually show someone exactly what to do to reach their goals. Our favorite thing about organizing our work in this manner is that it leaves our clients with a guide they can refer back to for years to come.
While we can’t jump in and create a custom workbook and road map for every single business owner reading this right now, we can provide you with some tips to stay productive and work smarter not harder.
As you are planning your next month, quarter, or year, follow these tips to accomplish your big goals with less friction and in less time.
5 Ways to Improve Productivity and Accomplish Big Goals
Get Disciplined - The truth is that no entrepreneur is motivated every single day to show up and do what they have to do. Instead, we’re disciplined enough to know that consistency matters. If that feels hard for you (and trust us, it feels hard for everyone at some point), find yourself an accountability partner. If you need one, join the Upleveler Society, our membership for business women. We’ll help you set goals and hold you accountable every step of the way!
Prioritize Wisely - Remember, not every task is urgent and not every task will move the needle in your business. Learn how to differentiate between priority tasks and "nice-to-do" tasks. To help, create these 3 labels on tab dividers in a binder you keep on your desk: Needle Mover, Brand Builder, and Nice to Have. When a task comes to mind, write it under the appropriate section. This will allow you to prioritize what needs to get done when you sit down to work. Then you can start on the Needle Mover tasks first before you work your way to the Nice to Have list.
Focus - It’s so easy to get distracted these days. Try the Pomodoro technique! It’s a time management technique developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, and it goes like this: Pick one task and set a timer for 25 minutes. Work until that timer is up, then give yourself a 5 minute break. Complete that cycle 4 times, then give yourself a 15-20 minute break. Remember to put your phone in the other room and turn off your email alerts so you truly are working on the task at hand during your 25-minute intervals!
Practice Consistency - Set aside time each day to work on the priority tasks you wrote down in your binder. No excuses. Consistency + vision = success. You can even take it a step further and keep a planner on your desk that will help you set aside time to work on each kind of task throughout the week. Consider using color coded stickers to mark what type of task it is - this could help ensure you don’t let the “nice to have” tasks take over your calendar. P.S. Avery has planners + custom printable stickers you can design to stay organized!
Streamline Your Work - When you think about the tasks you do in your business, determine which ones are recurring tasks. If you’re doing something over and over again, it’s time to streamline that task so you can complete it more efficiently or outsource it to someone else. For example, we mail special packages to our 1:1 Thrive and Expansion coaching and consulting clients, and we love using Avery labels to address boxes, personalize notepads and make our packages look more elevated. We’ve created a workflow around each step of the creation of these boxes and documented it in our project management tool Asana, so it’s easy for anyone on our team to dive in and create a welcome box for a new client!
When it comes down to it, operating efficiently as a business owner is about understanding what will move your business forward and putting your energy there - while still housing those other important thoughts in a safe place so you can tackle them when the right moment arises.
It’s about streamlining your processes, limiting distractions, and finding tools that will help you get things done in less time without sacrificing quality.
It’s nice to digitize our lives, but sometimes a good old-fashioned written list and a plan outlined in a binder will help you actually make progress on your goals. With these productivity hacks and Avery’s thoughtful products, this is sure to be your best season in business yet!
And when you start operating more efficiently, try not to fill every newfound minute or hour with more work. Make time to rest, because rest is also productive.
Ready to uplevel your processes and plan your best quarter or product launch yet? Grab some of our favorite Avery products here and for a limited time the code TIFFANY will be automatically applied for 15% off to set yourself up for more ease and even more success!
This post is sponsored by Avery but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
