Ask a business, any business, what goal they want to achieve this year and the answer will be to go green. The idea of saving the planet is commendable and advantageous at the same time. Not only does the world benefit, but so does the business at it gets grants and cuts costs at the same time. There is one problem, though – there are bigger fish to fry. Going green won’t save a business, but saving time will because time is money. Too many organizations waste the greatest gift given to them by the universe and it’s a crime. Here’s how to stop being an industry felon.
Be Realistic
This applies to deadlines and workload. Too many bosses set strict time restraints that are almost impossible to hit. The same goes for the average daily workload. All that happens is that employees get overwhelmed and fall back, and this ends up wasting more time. Sure, it’s nice to be productive and complete as many tasks as possible, yet you shouldn’t force anything. Instead, break the day down into chunks. Then, compare the responsibilities to the amount of time available in a working day. Hopefully, this should help the company find the perfect output-based balance.
Prioritize Tasks
There is always plenty to do, and every project is important in its own right. Still, some tasks are essential, others less so, and some can wait until the end of the month. It depends on circumstances at the time and the context, of course. So, you should take both of these factors into account every time you walk into the office and tackle the day. By doing this, prioritizing what is crucial and what can wait should be a simple process. If in doubt, ask a straightforward question: what will happen if I don’t do it today?
Invest In AI
“AI” stands for artificial intelligence and it’s available at every turn. Businesses need the software because it saves time and even completes tasks on its own. Take a virtual office as an example. Virtual services are great because they give the customer advisors time to solve problems. But, there is another benefit – they deal with complaints and enquiries. Sometimes, lots of times, in fact, people call up wanting an answer to a basic question. By setting the AI to provide links to the website and the FAQ section, the caller doesn’t have to speak to an advisor. With the right tech, there should be fewer issues to fix over the phone.
Take A Break
The idea that you need to work continually is flawed. Without a break, the mind gets tired and loses efficiency and starts to slow down. So, in the end, you waste time by working throughout the day. The key is to schedule regular, short breaks and refresh the brain and body. That way, you should come back reenergized and ready to tackle everything else on the to-do list. Five to ten minutes should be plenty of time to switch off.
How do you plan your day to maximize productivity?