Tips for Small Business Owners to Maintain Productivity

As a small business owner, it can feel like you have an overflowing plate at all times. * deep breath * It will all be okay! It is important to take a step back and reevaluate, what is yours vs. what is something that someone else can carry. I could go on and on about delegation. But for the sake of today’s topic, our focus is on staying productive and not for the sake of staying ‘busy’.

Busy and productive are NOT the same thing.

Productive is masterfully tacking away towards your vision and goals. While staying busy, is staying bogged down with small tasks that are not moving your needle forward.

Here are some practical tips to help you maintain productivity in your business:

1. Set Clear Goals and Prioritize Tasks

Ideally, you have your long-term vision in place. From here you map out your quarterly goals. To which you can assign weekly and daily goals. At the daily level, you would have standing tasks in place that are being completed and pushing your needle forward. It would look something like this:

Yearly - Quarterly - Monthly - Weekly - Daily

• Yearly goal - Increase brand awareness

• Quarterly - Launch a campaign that runs through the quarter (each quarter)

• Monthly - Select a subtopic that aligns with the quarterly campaign

• Weekly- Scheduled content coming out a few times per week.

• Daily- Content is either being shot, edited or created that aligns with your monthly message.

The focus is on your daily productivity here. You would not be spending hours everyday shooting, editing, posting. You would be spending a short time throughout the week focusing on quality content. With the bigger picture being alignment with your monthly and quarterly topics to ensure brand alignment.

2. Create a Structured Schedule

This goes back to the goals stated above. Knowing your big picture, you can now create a structured schedule to maximize your productivity. Time blocking is everything.

You can create a weekly schedule as below:

Maybe Mondays and Wednesdays are your meeting days. The days that you spend checking in with team members and clients. With Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday being your “flow” days. Where you produce your work and IN your flow state, uninterrupted.

OR maybe, you have a structured daily schedule. With meetings in the morning, and afternoons to focus on your creative flow state.

The point here is, to find what works for you and STICK to it. Allow yourself the free space to produce great work.

3. Delegate Tasks

There will be a separate post on this - but remember this. There is only one you. Put your focus on your strongest pursuits and delegate the rest. The more you carry in your basket, the less of your best work is being produced.

Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to employees or outsource work that doesn’t require your direct involvement. Focus on activities that align with your strengths and bring the most value to your business.

4. Minimize Distractions

I am a HUGE fan of the Pomodoro Technique, here is how it works.

• Choose a task to focus on

• Set a timer and work continuously for 25 minutes on that task

• Take a productivity break for 5 minutes

• Repeat this cycle 4 times (total would be 2 hours of solid work)

• Take a longer break for 30 minutes after 2 hours

This method is helpful when combined with Identifying common distractions in your work environment and taking steps to minimize them. This could include turning off notifications, setting specific times for checking emails or finding a quiet workspace to concentrate.

5. Use Technology Wisely

Explore productivity tools and softwares that can streamline your business processes.

From project management platforms to time-tracking apps, technology can help you work more efficiently and stay organized.

6. Take Breaks and Rest

Remember to take regular breaks to avoid burnout. Resting and recharging are essential for maintaining productivity in the long run. Remember the Pomodoro Technique is centered around this.

7. Track Progress and Reflect

Monitor your progress towards your business goals regularly. Reflect on what’s working well and where improvements can be made. Adjust your strategies as needed to optimize productivity.

By implementing these tips, small business owners can create a conducive environment for productivity and drive their ventures toward success. Remember, productivity is not about working harder but working smarter.

Stay focused, prioritize effectively, and don’t forget to celebrate your achievements along the way!