Deadline-based projects
Team/client meetings
Various paperwork
Assorted customer demands
Varied staff demands
Do you have time to do everything? Do you have time to manage the things mentioned above, as well as those other issues that crop up unexpectedly? If you answer in the negative, then you are probably tired, stressed, and contemplating a change in career! If you respond in the positive, then kudos to you, but we are betting quality takes a backseat when you’re trying to juggle the tasks on your schedule. And yet, whichever way you answer, any problems or challenges that exist very likely lie with you. Think about it. Are you over-complicating your business day? For example:

Are you taking on more work than you can feasibly manage?
Do you have a problem saying no?
Are you relying on outdated methods to get work done?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the above, then you are making your day more complicated than it needs to be. You need a system in place to simplify your business day and operations. By clarifying things, you will have more time to get work done on time and of a quality standard. Otherwise, you are making things far more complicated than they need to be.

Ideas for an effective system include the following:

a) Using online tools. These are the tools that that will simplify your tasks and streamline your business – consider Quickbooks for your accounting, or Supportbee to manage your customer service, as examples. Make light work of anything that you might spend far too much time on otherwise.

b) Using software to manage your project. The use of a performance management software can be a lifesaver. By centralizing your schedule, you have everything you need on hand to manage your operation.

c) Delegating to your staff. Unburden your load and delegate to the people who may have more time or (whisper it) more talent than you do to handle specific responsibilities. Not only will you be doing yourself a favor, but you may just make the day of your staff members too when you place your trust in them (providing you aren’t asking too much of them and overburdening their work day).

d) Outsourcing to others. As detailed above, but this time you are outsourcing specific tasks to external resources. While this may seem like an added expense as you may question why you should hire an outside source to do a job you or your staff can do. It makes good business sense when the outsourced contractor can offer something of higher quality (potentially), and free up your time (and your staff’s) to get back to other tasks in need of completion.

e) Prioritizing work. Not everything needs to be completed by a deadline. If something can be left until another day, then do so, especially if you know you don’t have time to finish it to a respectable standard. Again, you can download to-do-list apps to manage your schedule, and prioritize those things that are of greater relevance to your day.

 
When you choose to simplify your business day, you will improve your work-life balance, as you won’t be taking work home with you, and you will reduce the literal and figurative headaches you get when trying to manage far too much within your day. So, stop over-complicating your business day, and make your life simpler with the tips have been provided.

*Collaborative post