For all you entrepreneurs out there, work and personal time are the two sides of your daily lifestyle. Starting your own business can be time consuming, especially in your early days, getting your staff together, and organizing your products/services. Being preoccupied with your start-up might mean you will have to postpone your personal life schedule, as leisure time is not available. Being an entrepreneurial leader means you need to prioritize the current essentials in your life, what is important and what can wait for later. Here are some helpful tips to navigate through the day, conserving time and being on top of your work.
Plan Ahead
When starting your entrepreneurial journey, remember to plan ahead. Always have a physical agenda planner with you, like the ones you had in grade school, writing important events and dates. This goes without saying, but planning ahead also means expecting the unexpected; life is unpredictable, especially for the business world in Toronto, with deals and mergers prevalent. To be ready for the unexpected, create time slots in your time, albeit brief minutes, in order to have room to deal with emergencies. But as the leader, you already know what is important and what is not.
Prepare for the Unexpected
Taxes, loans, and surprise payment requirements can occur, especially when you are renting a workplace unit, manufacturing products, and need capital from your bank. You will need a bookkeeper to keep track of purchases, loans, and business expenses, as part of your agenda. Hiring someone to be your bookkeeper gives yourself more free time, but at a cost; consider being your own bookkeeper, tracking every payment and loan you have made, writing it in your planner. This saves money, but you will need to sacrifice personal time. Reserve at least two hours in the day for unexpected emergencies, while at the same time, not neglecting your other responsibilities. Splitting your time may seem confusing, but once you write it down, you can find room for other dates.
Stopping Distractions
As part of your time management, recognize what is a distraction and when to avoid them. Checking your email inbox every hour is a type of distraction, which you may think is procrastinating. But even a quick scroll on your computer can get in the way of your work, writing content or other desk tasks. Save around 10 minutes of your workday for email and texts, preferably in the middle of the day, scrolling your inbox and calling friends and family. The same can be applied to with socializing with your staff. During each day, you should focus on your business path and productivity, staying in your private room and desk. When doing this, ensure your phone and computer’s notifications are turned off, so only clients and other business-related calls come through. If you wish to socialize with your staff, do so at lunch breaks or at the last hour of the day. As the leader, it is important to be an extrovert and know who your workers really are. Studies show it is important for a business leader to have social skills and be comfortable with meeting new people, in order to drive their business forward.
Asking the Experts
Do not be hesitant to ask for help – everyone, even a leader with a great personality, might need assistance, from a person or technological tool. Speak with a business coach to learn the best time management skills they used and learn from senior leaders with experience in your line of work. In the ever-changing world, there are software tools that can help with time management, such as Asana and Trello, which helps cover time and provide insight on not just your own schedule, but your employees as well. Remote work is also a method of time management, made popular during the pandemic, and saves time in getting ready and travelling. Consider having a remote day once a week, if possible, for yourself, in order to open up time slots in your busy schedule. There are many options available, but always remember, your agenda planning is the most important help you can give yourself in managing time.
Babak Eslami | Writer
