Time management tips and tools

As someone who works with tools, MKM Group Mladen Kljaic knows Tradies are naturally inclined to be task-oriented.  However, the more time you spend 'on' your tools, the less time is spent managing the rest of your business.

This means you are losing time to connect with current and potential clients, perform tasks that help improve the efficiency of your business, and create activities that leverage your business to be on top of the industry.

Here are several time management techniques that you should start practising to maximise productivity and help you get some time back to pursue what you enjoy most in life.

Unclutter

Start off with a clean desk.  Nothing is better than an uncluttered desk to unclutter a busy schedule.  All the files and programs pinned to your desktop and taskbar are again distractions.


Keep only the most essential tools you need, and then all the remaining should be organised and classified within your MyDocuments folder, or better yet, on the Cloud.

Organise

The best and most effective management tool you can use is THE DUMP.

Create a master list of all the tasks and activities that you are currently doing, and what needs to be done - both in business and your personal life.

Sitting down and writing a list will help you gain clarity and you will immediately get a sense of the essential and non-essential activities.

Prioritise

A common mistake in organising tasks is dividing it into sections - such as Marketing, Financials, Tools, Administration, etc.

The problem with organising your activities this way is that it makes you gravitate to the tasks you are most comfortable undertaking, like being on the tools, and then missing out on the other tasks no matter how important they are.  Instead, segregrate your activities in terms of priority.

Allocate

Time management is actually a misnomer.  Time can't be managed as it runs out whether you like it or not.  However, what you can manage is your tasks - the number of tasks that you do and the amount of time you spend on them.

In your list, allocate specific duration that you will need to spend for each task.  The beauty of knowing the priority level of an activity is that you can schedule them on a daily, weekly, monthly and even quarterly basis, depending on its level, instead of trying to cram everything in a month, or worst, a week.

When allocating time, be realistic by allowing some time for distractions or interruptions.

Delegate

Having your priority list helps you decide which activities deserve the most of your attention.  You can now focus on the work that your business will stand to gain the most from, whilst leaving the medium or low priorities to other members of your team who are equally capable of doing the task.

Repeat

As priorities may change, revisit your task list every month, three months, six months or when necessary.

By re-aligning your team and yourself again with your priorities, it allows you to improve or update the processes, structures and technologies you have in place.

Tools

There are time management systems and apps available that can aid you in organising, reminding, accomplishing and tracking your activities.  Here are a few:

Outlook
Evernote
Toggl
MyLifeOrganized
Any.do
ClockShark -  offers a 14 day FREE trial
Google Drive

Whether your industry is Construction, Property Development, Interior Styling or Building break down your 'essentials' even further by marking them off as HIGH, MEDIUM and LOW.

Remember that the 80:20 rule also applies to your workload.  80% of your activities contribute to less than 20% of its value.  Place high priority to the crucial 20% of your workload, as it will yield a stronger gain.

Shared from The National Publication of The Association of Wall & Ceiling Industries {AWCI} for Australia and New Zealand.  Words by Jon Mailer CEO at Protrade United.



MKM Group founder Mladen Michael Kljaic was named the 2009 Gold Coast Business News Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

After establishing MKM in 1997, Kljaic has built his business to incorporate 100 staff and revenues of more than $40 million.






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