{"id":2684,"date":"2020-04-13T08:00:33","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T13:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/?p=2684"},"modified":"2020-10-05T15:31:57","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T20:31:57","slug":"productivity-time-management-strategies-small-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/productivity-time-management-strategies-small-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Productivity and Time Management Strategies for Your Small Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed by an ever-expanding to-do list \u2014 there\u2019s never enough time in the day to accomplish everything you need to do as an entrepreneur. No matter if you have two employees or 100, you might be responsible for the equivalent of an accountant, sales associate and marketer all at once. Without the seemingly endless resources of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/smb-larger-competitors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">big corporation<\/a>, you have to make every last dollar and every hour count.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re in the middle of a slow season, have low operating capital or just need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/reduce-overhead-small-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">lower your overhead expenses<\/a>, we\u2019ll help you work smarter, not harder. Here are five easy and effective ways to protect your most valuable resources \u2014 your people, time and capital.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>1.Strategically Map Out Your Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Sticking to a routine can help you accomplish more each day and stay accountable to yourself and to your team. A regular routine promotes plenty of other positive benefits, like better mental health, improved sleeping cycle and lower stress levels.<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Schedule recurring office hours, one-on-one meetings or short weekly meetings to share important updates and get progress reports from your team. These quick check-ins can help you get facetime and go over priorities and announcements without getting bogged down in back-to-back emails or individual conversations.<\/p>\n<p>If you have too many meetings to manage, these tips can help you preserve your time:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Block off time for deep work<\/strong>: Schedule time each day on your own calendar so that you can complete core responsibilities. Give yourself long enough in each block so that you can concentrate without distractions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be selective of meeting participants<\/strong>: Invite only the crucial stakeholders to work meetings, and delegate someone to take detailed notes. Send the notes to anyone that may need to know the information from the meeting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use team calendars to manage workloads<\/strong>: Eliminate back-and-forth scheduling struggles with a shared team calendar. Make sure to block out all your out-of-office, meeting and other busy time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2. Know When to Delegate and Outsource Responsibilities<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Once your small business reaches a certain size, you can\u2019t possibly handle every task yourself. You could already be there \u2014 maybe you have several people, teams or locations to oversee in any given day.<\/p>\n<p>While you may have the mindset to keep all tasks or jobs in-house, it may be more prudent to quickly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/tasks-outsourcing-small-business-owner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">outsource<\/a> a contract professional for the job rather than spend time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/free-resources-small-business-owners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">educate yourself<\/a> to do it. If you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/hire-contractors-or-employees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">can\u2019t afford a full-time employee<\/a>, freelance subject-matter experts are easier than ever to source for a one-time or contract-based need. Sites like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fiverr.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fiverr<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Upwork<\/a> are great places to start if you need help for a project or service, like customer support or website design.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>3. Protect Your Cash Flow<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Positive cash flow is the sign of a successes business, but sometimes, against your will and hard work, an unexpected expense or slow month can put you in the red. Get to know a few quick and reliable methods to increase your cash flow before you need to use them:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/small-business-recover-negative-cash-flow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How Can a Small Business Recover From Negative Cash Flow?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/avoid-common-small-business-cash-flow-mistakes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Avoid These Common Small Business Cash Flow Mistakes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/increase-cash-flow-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Quick Strategies to Increase Your Business\u2019 Cash Flow<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Having easy access to savings or some form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/revolving-credit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">business revolving credit<\/a>, like a credit card or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/business-line-of-credit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">line of credit<\/a>, can help you preserve precious time and energy when you\u2019re already strapped for resources. Revolving credit is a solid way to finance responsibly since you only borrow what you need when you need it, instead of a lump sum that may not be the amount you truly need.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>4. Set Responsible Examples for Your Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You shouldn\u2019t spend all day at the office \u2013 similarly, an always-on mentality isn\u2019t a sensible expectation from your team, at least in most situations. Instead, set practical boundaries, like leaving the office at a reasonable hour, limiting overtime and prioritizing a work-life balance.<\/p>\n<p>Allowing your team to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/productivity-advice-entrepreneurs-work-from-home\/\">work from home<\/a> or use flexible scheduling can actually help your whole team improve resource management, reduce or eliminate time commuting, improve work\/life balance and promote better health.<sup>2<\/sup> Additionally, remote-flexible enterprises may also be more agile and\/or prepared to work through unpredictable settings, like extreme weather or other unfavorable business conditions.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>5. Use Free or Low-Cost Small Business Apps and Tools<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You can find high-quality free or low-cost tools to help you maximize productivity, manage teams or even market, advertise and sell. If you haven\u2019t checked out what\u2019s available for free, these resources and tools can help you get started:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Marketing on a Budget<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/12-free-marketing-tools\/?popular=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">12 Free Marketing Tools<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/cost-effective-ways-expand-reach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">7 Cost-Effective Ways to Expand Your Reach<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/free-graphic-design-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Free Graphic Design Tools You\u2019ll Love<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Tech to Help You Manage Your Business<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/tools-small-businesses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Must-Have Tools for Small Businesses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/free-resources-small-business-owners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Essential Free Resources for Small Business Owners<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/tips-automating-small-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">17 Tips for Automating Your Small Business<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/chrome-extensions-productivity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">27 Chrome Extensions to Boost Your Productivity<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Free Small Business Templates<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"Small%20Business%20Cash%20Flow%20Statement%20Templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Small Business Cash Flow Statement Templates<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbacker.com\/blog\/free-small-business-budget-template\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Free Small Business Budget Template<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/business-budget-calculator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Business Budget Calculator<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/useful-ooo-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Useful Out of Office Templates<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Password Management Tools<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastpass.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LastPass<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/passhub.net\/login.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PassHub<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Project and Task Management Apps<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/asana.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Asana<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/trello.com\/en-US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trello<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Stay Connected From Afar<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.join.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">join,me<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/slack.com\/pricing\/free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Slack<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skype.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Skype<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Resources<\/p>\n<p><sup>1<\/sup>Plata, M. (2018). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/the-gen-y-psy\/201810\/the-power-routines-in-your-mental-health\">The Power of Routines in Your Mental Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><sup>2<\/sup>Howington, J. (2018). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flexjobs.com\/employer-blog\/the-benefits-of-allowing-employees-a-flexible-schedule\/\">The Benefits of Allowing Employees a Flexible Schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed by an ever-expanding to-do list \u2014 there\u2019s never enough time in the day to accomplish &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2685,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[611],"tags":[197],"class_list":["post-2684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-optimizing-your-small-business","tag-time-management"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Productivity and Time Management Strategies for Your Small Business - Headway Capital Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re in the middle of a slow season or just need to lower your overhead expenses, we\u2019ll help you work smarter, not harder.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/productivity-time-management-strategies-small-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Productivity and Time Management Strategies for Your Small Business - Headway Capital Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re in the middle of a slow season or just need to lower your overhead expenses, we\u2019ll help you work smarter, not harder.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/productivity-time-management-strategies-small-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Headway Capital Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-04-13T13:00:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-10-05T20:31:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.headwaycapital.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/04\/20-00238_05_USMB-Social-1a01.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Barbara Davidson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Barbara Davidson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Productivity and Time Management Strategies for Your Small Business - 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