Dan Radak, WED | A small business needs to focus its energy on productivity. There are a lot of competitors out there and it’s imperative to stay on the cutting edge of things in order to stay afloat, and productivity is one of those things you just have to improve all the time.
This doesn’t have to be a complicated job and it doesn’t have to cost that much. Most of the time, a small hack could help you get the most out of your workflow and out of your employees.
The purge
Every now and again you need to purge the office from all the things that are just wasting space and you don’t actually use. This should be a regularly scheduled event and it should be done as thoroughly as possible. The items that you don’t need don’t have to be discarded; you can also sell them and use the profit to add new features to your office.
The same needs to be done with a virtual office as well. There are different rules for cleaning up your computer, but you should still delete the things you don’t need. Investing in versatile cloud storage is also a valuable alternative if you don’t like deleting data.
Meetings
Meetings tend to take up a lot of time and energy even in the most modern of offices. They are sometimes necessary and it’s important to prepare for them, but most of the time, the resources used for a meeting could be utilized more efficiently.
You should install one simple rule to keep your meetings in order. It may sound deceivingly easy, but it’s what saves you the most time and productivity. Simply put: only those who have something to contribute to the meeting should be in it. This is something most companies can’t achieve, but it really makes a difference.
Employee monitoring
The advancements in technology allow businesses to attract talented employees from all over the world and let them work remotely. This agreement is useful to all the parties because it gives the employees more free and personal time, while allowing businesses to save on their infrastructure.
However, this also represents a challenge in terms of management. That’s why it’s imperative to consider tracking computer activities in order to understand how the office works when you’re not around. That way you can also use the feedback to increase office productivity wherever you can.
Going paperless
Going paperless is one of those changes that a lot of businesses think about, but few ever do because it seems like too big of a commitment. However, it’s an option that can be worth your time both in terms of productivity and in terms of the marketing opportunities it provides. There are clients and customers who find this an admirable quality because they want to work with businesses that share their values about the environment.
It’s best if you set up the transition in phases in a manner that allows you to deal with current engagements digitally while changing the archive on your timeline.
Time management
Those who have been running their own business for a while tend to realize that time is the most important resource and that you need to treat it with care. There are no clear rules as to how to do this, because almost everyone has their own way of organizing things, but there are a few techniques you can try.
For example, there is a so-called pomodoro technique. It’s a simple trick that basically consists of working intensely for 25 minutes and resting for 5. Repeat the process three times and then rest for 40 minutes. That will keep you focused and organized.
Have a daily ritual
A daily ritual that helps you structure your work is essential for staying productive. A good daily routine should actually start the day before when you create a list of things to be done the following day. It’s also imperative to carve out time for boring but necessary tasks such as answering e-mails or having meetings.
That way, your daily ritual can actually focus on the most important tasks ahead of you. Productivity starts with prioritization.
Office productivity isn’t just about working smoothly; it’s also something that affects your bottom line. You should embrace the technology and the gadgets that make the process easier.
Dan Radak is a marketing professional with eleven years of experience. He is a coauthor on several websites and regular contributor to BizzMark Blog. Currently, he is working with a number of companies in the field of digital marketing, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies
