Business owners wear a lot of hats so it’s not surprising that the desire to uncover time-saving techniques is strong. BUT the problem with a lot of time-saving techniques and hacks you read about in blogs either:
- Encourage you to avoid getting distracted (Don’t check your email all day. duh!) OR
- Save you just a few minutes (Lay your clothes out the night before so you know what to wear. #dontgetmestarted)
And while many of these blogs are useful and will certainly help you stay focused and get more efficient, this ain’t that kind of blog post!
Because I get it.
- You’re not getting distracted by cat videos all day.
- You don’t give a f*ck what you are wearing.
- You’re not getting stuck at the water cooler chatting with Karen from floor 2.
You’re a business owner who kills it with her clients, has tons of value to give and is desperate for the space to do it in.
So if you’re done with all the so-called “time-saving techniques” that are really just a laundry list of ways you shouldn’t get distracted and will save you 5 minutes then keep reading.
The truth is, there are only 3 ways to truly save time.
Only 3 REAL ways to open up space on your calendar and in your mind.
They are:
- Streamline
- Automate
- Delegate
That’s it. Period.
Streamline
This one might feel a little confusing because it blurs the line between what’s actually streamlining and what’s being efficient. Let’s get clear on that difference first.
Being efficient means having canned emails.
Being streamlined is having as few canned emails as possible to get the job done right.
See the difference?
Streamlining is macro and efficiency is micro. Streamlining requires efficiency not just at the execution level (emails) but also at the strategic level (workflows and processes). Getting clear on your workflows and removing all the gaps, drop offs and redundancies is the real time saver.
Get Started Tip: Pick one process in your business and begin writing down all the steps you take to complete it. Look for tasks that can be removed or combined to begin streamlining it.
Automate
Automation is a business owners best friend and a true way of getting a task off your plate permanently. But don’t let the word fool you. Once automation is set up, it’s a great time-saving technique but getting it set up can be a big lift. The key is to not get discouraged and seek support if you need it.
First step in automating your business and reaping those time-saving benefits? Decide what you want to automate!
Great first tasks to automate include invoicing, follow ups and scheduling. For more on this, read 3 tasks to automate in your business today.
Once you know what you are trying to automate, now is the time to find the right tool for the job. My fav is Dubsado. It’s user-friendly, inexpensive and packs a big automation punch.
Get Started Tip: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by automation, start small and work your way up. Begin by automating scheduling and follow that with invoices. Once you get your automation feet wet, this time-saving technique will become your fav!
Delegate
The final time-saving technique, delegate, is probably the most difficult for many business owners. Letting someone else take the reins even for small tasks can feel a bit like handing over your baby.
Will someone else care for, love and tend to your business like you will?
Think of this way, if you’ve hired an expert in their field to come into your business to do work you aren’t an expert in, who do you think will do the better job? I’ll give you a hint, it’s the expert!
Instead of you struggling with Canva, checking emails through blurry eyes at midnight and cursing Quickbooks name, delegate these tasks to people who have the knowledge, time and resources to dedicate to them.
Get Started Tip: Start by delegating simple tasks for a short period of time. Many VA’s allow for a trial month or project. Give it whirl, you might be surprised at how much you love the help!
Bonus Tip
Apply all of the above time-saving techniques in order. Implementing these techniques in order will make the process a lot smoother and give you more time-saving bang for your buck!
Need a little backup on your time-saving journey?
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