10 Quick Tips to Improve Business Efficiency

Let’s take a second to get real: how much time do you waste every day in the office?

Every second of your time that somebody asks for…  or task you spend an unnecessary amount of time on… adds up. To make the best use of your time, you need a system that boosts efficiency and productivity.

Want improve your business efficiency – saving time and money in your business? Follow these 10 tips below.

How to Improve Business Efficiency and Enhance Productivity

Time is money, so wasting time is wasting money. Save time and resources by tightening up and improving your business efficiency. 

Learn about automation, outsourcing and other quick tricks that will help make your business more efficient.

1. Establish Standard Operating Procedures

Creating and sticking to standard operating procedures from the start will save you from scrambling when things get real

Write your SOPs out so that they can be easily accessed and shared with new team members.

2. Automate, Automate, Automate

If there is a task that can be automated, automate it. Don’t do work when it’s not necessary. This will save you so much time throughout the day.

You can automate invoicing, cybersecurity, bookkeeping, some customer service and more!

3. Set Standards for Communication

Communication is key to creating a team that operates like a well-oiled machine. Set your communication expectations from the moment that you bring on a new hire.

Let the team know the best way to reach you and one another. Also, keep everybody in the loop with your business’s standard operating procedure. These practices promote business efficiency as they allow processes to flow more smoothly.

Slack is a great communication tool. It allows you to create different “channels,” which are basically group chats that are designed for co-working. Of course, you’re welcome to 

4. Invest in a Task Management Service

If you’re working for a team or if you have a lot of tasks to complete by yourself, a task management service could come in handy.

Monday, Asana and Trello are three of the most popular task management services. Managing your team’s tasks will become easy peasy. 

5. Skip the Multi-Tasking

Multitasking creates this illusion that you’re being super productive. But in reality, you’re not.

When you multitask, your brain is stretched in a million different directions. This doesn’t allow you to focus and accomplish on each of your tasks and complete them in the timeframe that you’re capable of.

Pick one task to focus on at a time. This will take you from busy to productive.

6. Put it in the Calendar

Taking on last-minute tasks, no matter how small, really interrupt your workflow. Flexibility is nice, but you’ll be much more productive if you schedule calls, meetings, and all other work-related activities.

Don’t feel guilty turning somebody down even when they ask for just a minute or two. Set your boundaries

Google Calendar is a great program for syncing your schedule among all of your devices. Best part? It’s free.

7. Delegate

Don’t try to do it all on your own. If there is an area of your business that isn’t your strong suit or requires you to stretch yourself thin due to time constraints, delegate it to somebody else. 

If there is nobody on your team that is capable of completing the tasks you need help with, contract it out. 

Hiring a virtual assistant can also help you save a ton of time.

8. Round-Up Often

Bring the team together several times a week—even if it’s for 10 minutes a day—to make sure that everybody is on top of their tasks and on the same page. Welcome everybody to express their comments and concerns.

Short round-up meetings are a great way to maintain adequate communication with your team.

9. Minimize Distractions

Cell phones are an obvious distraction, and having everybody leave theirs in a basket at the door is unrealistic.

Make an effort to limit unnecessary non-work-related phone and computer usage.

10. Foster a Healthy Team Dynamic

Encourage everybody on the team to build professional relationships. This will help them work better as a team when it comes to projects and tasks.

Holding team building events once a month or inviting everybody to happy hour can help foster healthy working relationships.

Let’s Get Efficient

Ready to work more efficiently? These tips, tricks, and tools will really help you improve your business efficiency.

Which practices do you already use? Which changes will you make first?