Learn to work productively and limit distractions in your home office or small business so you get more done.
You're the CEO, the secretary, the marketing guru, the accountant, the customer sales rep, the office cleaner, and the workforce in total. As a small business owner, you wear about 20 different hats, and juggling them all can lead to 14-hour work days and a "To Do" list that will keep you busy for months.
While there is nothing that is going to take away all the stress of being a small business owner, there are ways you can work smarter, not harder, and get more done in less time. Sounds appealing, doesn't it?
Well, let's get into it then. The most important thing we need to learn to do is limit distractions. No matter what business you're in, you have an office somewhere, whether it's in your home, an office, or even your car. Structuring your day at the office is going to help limit distractions which will allow you to get more work done.
For example, if you're working on a report for a client and answer the phone every single time it rings, each interruption costs you a minimum of 10 minutes. If you're on the phone for 4 of those minutes, it will take you at least 6 minutes to get your concentration back on what you were doing before it rang. And this is the minimum. For many people it can take much longer than that. So, the key here is to turn off your phone when you're working on something that has to get done. Voicemail was invented for just this reason, and you can call them back. Promise.
It's also vital not to compulsively check your email every 5 minutes. This is a huge problem for most people, and is very distracting and time consuming. Have a set time twice per day to check and respond to email, and try not to do it any other time. If you can turn off the "Incoming Mail" chime, do it and keep temptation at bay.
If you have employees that continually interrupt you, try hanging a sign on your office door that lets them know you're in the middle of a project and will be availabe at such and such o'clock. Barring a building fire or an irate customer, they can come back later.
Also take a look at your office decor (provided you're not working out of your car). Do you have a lot of personal photographs and knick knacks in there? Taking them out is a really good idea. The less you have to look at and gaze around at the more your eyes will turn towards your computer screen. Your office needs to be professional and geared towards work, and shouldn't resemble a second bedroom.
Keep your desktop clear of all the "office paraphanalia" that can congregate there. Staplers, paperclip holders, Post-It Notes, scissors, those things don't need to be out in the open. They cause visual clutter and impede upon your workspace. Desk drawers were created to hold this stuff.
These are just a few tips to help you work a bit more effectively during the day. By limiting your distractions and having a set time to complete certain tasks, you'll be much more likely to get your "To Do" list under control!
