9 Untold Management Skills That Will Improve Your Productivity
Introduction
Business owners put on many different hats for many different occasions. As such, they require a good amount of discipline in order to maintain consistency while balancing many different tasks. The ideal goal is to optimize all productivity by figuring out the most efficient method to do so.
If there is no proper structures or systems organized, things will become messy. And when things become messy, valuable time will be spent on looking for things like relevant paperwork, contracts, information.
As such workload will start piling up resulting in more time being wasted, when it can be used for more productive work. In general, with proper management and organisational skills, a lot of time can be saved and stress can be greatly reduced so that you work clearly with focus. Hence, organisational skills is a valuable skill to have as a leader and can save or improve your business.
Managing Time – Time Is Money
Time is a valuable resource. When time is spent doing unnecessary work, doors of opportunities will close themselves. With proper organisational skills and time management, you can effectively plan the most efficient route to maximize productivity and focus on more important matters.
Organizing oneself is an essential skill that should not only be limited to work. By being an organized person in both work and social life, you will be able to de-clutter unnecessary noise and see everything in a clearer picture and free up time for things that matter most to you.
Failing To Plan As A Manager
Planning is an essential element to have among the many management skills you should learn. For example, in context with matters such as the finance of a business, organizing day to day operations is the key foundation for a good management system.
Without a structured and proper way of keeping records to observe movements of a business’s cash flow, balances can be overlooked and go unpaid without realising.
If companies are not paid promptly and the supply chain closes because of a delinquent balance, it will negatively impact the business and will suffer losses.
Keeping a close eye and understanding when and where money is moving in and out can help with important decision making such as adjustments to increase sales or reduce spending.
This is only possible when effective planning takes place and when information is organized.
Poor Managing Of Customer Service
Managing poorly can result in a decrease in customer service. Take an online shop for example. If the store’s order process system is not organized and programmed properly, customers may start experiencing problems with delayed orders or worse still accidentally overpaid due to improper billing systems.
Same too with staff training. Frontline staffs need to be trained regularly so that they will always have the company’s main mission interest in mind.
In order for a business to continue earning and have returning loyal customers, organizing essential areas with customer interaction are important. When customers are satisfied, they will come back for more and business will enjoy better profit.
Organizing Daily Processes And Flow
It can be overwhelming to work in an unorganized environment where everything is all over the place. And when both employers and employees start to become overly stressed due to the mess, quality of work and decision making will be affected.
This can be avoided by sorting through files and information in a systematic way for ease. To fall sick and get burnt out at the expense of poor organization is not uncommon.
Putting into practice good organisation will greatly improve and benefit both employers and employees. In doing so, stress can be reduced and quality of work can be better.
Effective Ways To Be More Organized
In the current competitive climate you will need as much advantages working in your favor so these are some ways to improve your managing and organisational skills without doing too much on your end.
1 – Take Control And Be Proactive
Be proactive and stop going with the flow. If you want to progress, you have to take ownership of your time and not simply just react to whatever comes.
Planning your day ahead can greatly maximize your productivity and when prepared properly, you are able to remove the uncertainties and make the most out of your day. By being proactive and planning ahead you might even give you a better perspective as to how to perform better.
2 – Have A Notebook
Grab a notebook or your phone because to supplement being proactive, you will need to make a list of the things you have to do throughout each day. The advantage of this is that it is a visual reminder.
That way you can stay focused and keep on track. Additionally, the action of just crossing out a list one by one is not only satisfying but motivating too because you will be filled with a sense of accomplishment each time you get closer to the end.
3 – Time Management
Similarly while making a list, you are also planning your day ahead. You should allocate specific time intervals to complete each task and not stray to far from the prescribed timing. This way, you can ensure you meet all your deadlines, and nothing is left by the wayside.
4 – Maintain Discipline In Starting The Day Early
If you start your day properly, the motivation and discipline will carry forward with you throughout the day. Odds are you will also be able to get more things done and finish work on time without rushing.
Starting the day early also means that you have more time for some exercise to look after your health and even cook yourself a good breakfast! The idea is to plan and pace yourself throughout the day so you don’t have to feel stressed or rushed. Ever seen a manager who’s always late?
5 – Set Up A Database
Living in the age of technology now, most of your files are probably going to be digital. This means a lot of information will be cluttered without reasonable sorting. You have to manage the data that you stored well.
Searching for a file will take just as long as searching for a misplaced object. You will have to ensure that you organize your file in a systematic and orderly manner. As a safety measure, you should also save a master copy of all your documents just in case if anything wrong happens.
6 – Managing Priorities
Each person has their own favourite time of day when everything just flows together very well and they are at their most productive. Some people work better in the evening when the environment is less hectic while some prefer the morning buzz.
Strategically, you should plan and keep the most challenging or of high importance during that period when you are feeling at your best. The key is to manage your time well and compromise to find a balance with your other commitments or priorities.
7 – Turn Down Unnecessary Noise
It may sound redundant, however a lot of time is taken up when you have to entertain interruptions while at work. What’s essential is to plan out your day and stick to it. Follow your timetable and avoid unnecessary distractions as much as you can.
Switch off you handphone, avoid interactions that are meaningless. You can save those cat videos for after work when you can unwind and relax.
You may think it is obvious, but you waste a lot of time dealing with interruptions to your work. This is why it is important to make a schedule. Follow the schedule and avoid distractions as much as possible.
Turn off your mobile phone, close the door to your office, and avoid useless meetings. If you frequently travel, you should travel in the most comfortable surroundings as you can get so you can still do work.
8 – Delegate Effectively
No one can do everything on their own. Even if you can, when possible you should delegate tasks or outsource them to other people. You might think you are saving money by doing all the work by yourself.
However, by delegating you are freeing up your time for more important tasks and may actually save a considerable amount of money. Delegate your work to the right people who can get the job done and focus your energy on what’s essential.
9 – Tidy Up Your Work Area
It does not matter if your work environment includes having to work with others or if you work just by yourself. A clean and orderly work area will make you more productive and efficient. Take the time to arrange your items so in future you can shorten the time and energy to finish up on work. It’s all about being more productive by being more efficient at work.
In conclusion, good organisational skills are the keys to success of any business. There are some people who are gifted to be naturally well organized, but that doesn’t mean if you aren’t born with it, you cannot learn to develop it. It all takes time and with patience, you will eventually learn to add these skills as one of your most valuable skill assets in the future.
Recent Comments