Time Management for small business owners...

Over the years I have observed that those with a schedule seem to get the most done. As I have worked with small business owners time management seems to be a critical issue.

Time Management is such a important topic. Everyday I see SBO waste an incredible amount of time not being productive. The employees take their cue from the owner. I have seen many busy employers with busy staff's. But also when the owner leaves the intensity of the workers drops off dramatically. It is all about leadership.

As a business coach it becomes evident that people in general, unless trained, don't put a priority on time management or acquiring TM skills.

Owners must determine what is relevant verses what is a distraction in their daily endeavors. Many many hours are wasted on irrelevant issues as it relates to business matters. As I meet with clients we discuss where the majority of their time is spent. Always we carve out a couple hours a day that are wasted. Problem is that most owners spend over 50 hours a week running the company. But in reality if time management was at the forefront the hours would drop and the owner would become more productive.

We are all guilty of wasting time. It takes work and effort to corral your schedule and make it your own.

My suggestions are the night before you set up your next day. What are the things you need to get accomplished and by what time. If you get everything done on your list you have planned wrong. Stretch yourself to accomplish things that normally couldn't be done. Reward yourself accordingly when the task has been completed.

Conduct weekly meetings. Find a good book on time management and have the staff tell you how they will use each chapter as it relates to their own personal productivity. Then have them check in at every meeting. It shows concern for the employee that you care enough about them to lead them, but also gets back time lost that you as the owner are paying for without productivity.

Time management is all about productivity or lack thereof. Time is money. As a SBO you are either taking your time seriously or you are losing money and don't realize it.

Steven Hume
www.linkedin.com/in/stevenhume66