Like with any business, it’s important to manage expectations and have clear boundaries. This is even more important with a virtual business so make sure that you have clear, measurable goals in place and that your processes and vision are communicated effectively. Your team always needs to feel supported.
Using a personal management system turns you into a productive task master. Once your systems, processes & tools are in place, you can cruise through tasks.
I’d say I’m a very productive person, especially when I take on several tasks that I am passionate about. Sometimes I take on more than I can handle because I really love what I do and it questions my limitations and about productivity. So to get more productive, here are some of my reflections on productivity, time management and how to stay focused and organized.
Take a look at your to-do list, are there tasks on there that are taking away the time you should be using on your business? If so, it’s probably time to start looking for a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant (also called a VA) can free you from the administrative tasks that aren’t an effective use of your entrepreneurial time. One advantage of a virtual assistant is that they work remotely and as needed so you don’t have to spend as much as you would for an employee that works on site, all the time .. you know, the clock punchers. So .. ready to contract a VA for your business? If you are, here are some tips on finding one and working with one successfully.
In your virtual assistant practice, you are always going to have to find a way to schedule all of your tasks and those of your clients, into your 8-hour workday. There are certain times of day where you are more productive than others, known as your prime productivity time and be protective of that time.
You don’t need more time in your day, you simply need to organize your time better. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish each day with a bit of structure, prioritizing and commitment in your personal life and your office. Below we look at 10 steps you can implement today.
How often do you use the word “no” to protect your time, productivity and creativity? You are probably aware of the power of “no” when it comes to the concept of time-management as a whole, but you may have overlooked it purely as a technique to boost your productivity and more so to your creative output.
If you feel you are surrounded by chaos and never get to do what you originally planned to, you are probably blaming it on poor time management. Such a scapegoat! It is easy to fall into this trap when you consider all the things that can disrupt your day no matter how carefully you planned it. Even the best leaders are faced with the same challenges, but they deal with them not through better time management, but through more effective management. Rather than defining each activity in terms of planned versus unexpected, they find ways in which to accomplish the planned through the unexpected. One method involves breaking each activity into three steps – prepare, do, review.
Are you buckling under stress and a demanding workload? Are you constantly in a hurry and worried about not having enough time? Are you trying to do everything yourself?
Why?
You may think that doing everything yourself ensures that it is done on time, and done well, but you are mistaken. The truth is that by trying to do it all yourself you are not only burning yourself out, but you are also more likely to make mistakes, because of stress.
As the end of the year rolls around, I have the tendency to smirk at those who profess their New Year’s Resolutions. While I applaud your efforts for thinking about what goal you want to accomplish, why wait until January 1st, or why not put off things until February 1st? I know, I’m not a lover of procrastination, but hear me out..