How to Increase Productivity in Your Small Business
/Running a small business is no small feat. There are plenty of operational and fundamental factors that are constantly running at the forefront of your mind, and as an eager entrepreneur, you know it would be a mistake to ignore them. At the end of the day, you’re aiming for growth, you’re striving for success, and you’re depending on top-tier productivity to make those things happen. Because, after all, time is money!
There is nothing more important to a small business than its employees. They say that employees are the lifeblood of the company, and that couldn’t be truer— think about it, without your loyal workers, where would you be? That being said, it’s equally important to note that in order to get employees to produce at the level you desire. They’ll need to have the right structure, motivation, and attitude to scale the ranks of success.
With these tips on how to increase productivity, you’ll be reaching your dream profit margins in no time!
Invest in apps that will aid you and your employees
Apps aren’t just for playing games and connecting with friends and family, they’re also wonderful assistive programs for the workplace. Consider investing in these productivity-centric applications:
Forest: Your phone is a constant source of distraction. No matter how far away you keep it and or how discreet your notifications may be, your phone is the single device connecting you to your digital world.
Forest is a great app that visually rewards you for leaving your phone alone. If you leave your phone alone for whatever amount of time you choose, the sapling will grow into a big, bountiful tree. Should you exit out of the app before the timer runs out, your little tree will die. As your focus grows, so does your forest.
ToDoist: Running a startup business? Odds are that you have plenty on your plate to get done in a day’s time. With so much to remember at any given moment, you’ll need a structured system of reminders to truly seize the day.
ToDoist is the ultimate to-do list for the digital worker. Jot down everything you need to get done and let this intelligent software interpret and categorize the tasks for you.
Focus Booster: This simple app uses the Pomodoro Method of 25-minute blocks of time to focus on a specific task. After four 25-minute periods, you get to enjoy a 20-30 minute break. Not only does Focus Booster promote more effective productivity, but it allows you and your team to balance goals, time track, and fine-tune your attention span.
Stock up on the right software
It’s incredibly easy to get lost in the mix of the available programs out there that are designed to streamline your business-dealings. Rather than grabbing at every possible resource, do your research and find the right software for you and your small business. For example, if you’re an accounting firm, you’ll want to do your fair share of professional tax software comparison before settling on one that might not quite fit your needs or expectations.
Not sure where to start? Begin with these fundamental organizational and operational software applications:
Slack: Rather than jogging around the office trying to find the right person to answer your specific question, stay at your desk and send a Slack instead. Instant messaging may seem like a communication form of the past, but it’s one that’s actually quite efficient, especially in the office. Slack is available in a variety of different plans, so depending on your particular needs, you can tailor your perfect version of Slack in an instant.
Trello: They say that teamwork makes the dream work and it’s incredibly important for your small business to collaborate with organization in mind should success be your end goal. Work online with teams, create boards, lists and cards, and integrate useful apps like Google Drive and Slack with streamlined ease.
Microsoft Office: Whether you’re working with Word documents, Excel sheets, or PowerPoint presentations, you need smart, reliable software to turn ideas into usable solutions. Microsoft Office has been the most dependable suite of programs for businesses all around the world.
Increasing productivity in the workplace begins with organization and ends with success. With these helpful apps, you can begin today!
About Money & Mimosas: Money & Mimosas was started as a passion project by Danetha, a former NFL cheerleader turned entrepreneur and financial journalist. After a brunch conversation with girlfriends, Danetha was inspired to launch a resource to explore her journey of becoming rich, sexy and confident.
