29th September 2017
If you’re a director, owner, or senior manager of a small business it’s sometimes difficult to get your head out of the business, switch off, and get some of your life back.
The 24/7 always on relationship we increasingly suffer from often sees small business owners catching up with the paperwork and non business driving tasks at weekends. Isn’t it time to get your head out of the paperwork and enjoy your weekend?
Starting a business usually means working harder and longer than you’ve ever worked. If you’re tired and your batteries are low your business will suffer. Losing a few hours every day or week on non core tasks means you are not focussing on growing your business and not pursuing every available opportunity for business growth.
When you’re establishing a new business time goes very, very fast. Recent research suggests a typical SME business owner finds just 12 hours to pursue activities dedicated to growing their enterprise yet spends 10 hours dedicated to completing tasks which distract from activities that encourage business growth. It’s a wonder any new business survives
Another survey showed that 34% of small business in the UK have neglected the development of new business ideas citing lack of time, despite most working over 40 hours a week. The term ‘Time poor” is very relevant here, with the long hours attributed (in the survey) to the lack of appropriately-skilled employees.
So, how do I get back time and my weekend?
As an SME, organising and investing wisely in your team workforce will reap many benefits. A lot of companies start of with just one person, then two, three and so on. As the company expands people take on some of the duties from others and wear multiple hats covering different parts of the organisation. However the time you or your team spend on areas where you are not experts could mean you struggle with the technical and legislative prowess to complete the tasks, creating an administrative burden. Identifying the time wasters and things that are not working properly or efficiently is a great first step. Outsourcing some tasks may well be appropriate if you don’t have the skills in house.
All of the things you read about in the business manuals often go out of the window when you are busy. but they are worth revisiting
The 80/20 rule – make sure you spend time wisely, time logging, perhaps using the pomodoro technique, effective delegation but not abdication, are all good things to help get your life back in order. It’s worth it.
Coca Cola’s CEO – Bryan G Dyson: “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit– are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.
So, deep breath, take stock, and plan to get your weekend back!
