Time Management for Small Business: Cut to the Chase

Earlier in the week I wrote a piece on the 10 minute power meeting and on the 10 second marketing speech. The issue here is clearly getting things done in as little time possible.

Time management is the current buzz-word for small and micro business. No matter what kind of small business and start-up business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer- or Personal business, like professional, contractors, freelancer, self-employed, sole-trader and virtual assistants you run, time is a finite resource for all of us, and we need to learn to use our time as best we can.

You would be forgiven to believe, that time management is only the obsession of managers, but is that really the case? I believe time management to be an integral part of your work-life balance strategy. If you get your work done more efficiently it will help the overall business efficiency, but at the same time get you out of your office sooner, allowing you to enjoy the better things of life.

Efficiency is also a bootstrapper trait, getting things done reduces overheads and other costs, you will see the results in your monthly planning exercise, your income will increase while your costs don’t change.

Here are some basic rules on time management – or cutting to the chase – as I would call it:

• Tell people how you want them to work with you, or how to use your time;
• Return the favor, treat their time as you want your time treated;
• No meetings without agenda;
• No long documents without a short summery;
• Make sure you know what is expected of you;
• Ask – don’t wait for offers, go and get what you need to do your task.

I’ll be writing more one this later, but I guess you get what I’m getting at. Like so often it is just the case of “taking some time” to come up with more specific ways to save time during your work day.

“Taking time” to increase your time management efficiency is not “wasted time”! ST.

5 Responses to “ Time Management for Small Business: Cut to the Chase ”

1. Don
   
   Said on November 3rd, 2007 at 3:22 pm

   Great points! And if I may add, at the start of a day review priority of the day, and put in your best efforts for it! And keep track and measure your effort.

2. David
   
   Said on November 11th, 2007 at 1:30 am

   I agree that time management is crucial for making a company run smoothly. I have had a boss that had numerous meetings throughout the day that were a complete waste of time. All of the employees were angry about it because they would fall behind in their work due to the meetings and nothing was accomplished from them. I would never do this in my own business. It was good to be able to witness what not to do.

   David
   http://start-office-cleaning.blogspot.com

3. Chelli
   
   Said on January 18th, 2008 at 2:00 am

   Please keep me on your mailing list.
   Thanks!

4. Chelli
   
   Said on January 18th, 2008 at 2:04 am

   I thoroughly enjoyed reading the blogs. I am a would-be small business owner.
   Cheers!

5. Jan
   
   Said on October 13th, 2009 at 9:29 am

   using a time tracking system, i think it’s a must. you need some stats in order to get a grip on your time.

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