Time Management Skills for Increasing Business Productivity

Posted on 01. Sep, 2011 by Loren Greig in Online Marketing

Time management skills are essential for those who want to be productive in business and more easily achieve their goals and visions. In fact, those who consistently use time management and project management wisely are the leading achievers in many aspects of life.

Mastering these skills also enhances one’s ability to function effectively under intense pressure.

Central to time management is placing focus on results rather than on all the things that need to be accomplished.

Without a good plan and solid strategies to effectively handle productivity, it’s very easy to get buried under the pile of tasks that need to be covered on a daily basis. Too often people have their sights set on what has to be done and trying to get it done. This is often a scattered-type technique and very little gets effectively accomplished. It’s much more productive to set your vision on the results.

Here’s a short list of time management strategies that assist in creating the positive results we desire:

1. Set long and short term goals

2. Prioritize the most important and most productive tasks

3. Create and adhere to a “to-do list”

4. Stay focused and committed to the task at hand; avoiding distractions

I prefer to start my business day by first focusing on and accomplishing the tasks that are most important to my business. These are the “high pay-off” aspects I need to consistently and persistently perform to increasingly improve and build my business. Attending to these while your mind is fresh increases opportunities for success.

Business goal setting is essential and gives you a destination to work forward to, whether it be one week, one month, six months or a year.

This is imperative to knowing where you are going and how you plan to get there. Goals with real clarity also assist in the creation and management of priorities, with scheduling, in finding the right tools and in creating and implementing the necessary strategies that need to be in place to continually move forward.

Prioritizing is an effective tactic to keep you on track with your goals and is important to accomplishing the most important and most productive tasks first. Often times it is the foundational aspects of our business that need to be consistently maintained and built on. Prioritizing helps keep our attention focused where it needs to be for business stability and production.

Maintaining a to-do list is a very useful strategy for time management. It is very easy to create and implement.

I find it very productive to create my to-do list before going to bed at night. That way, the next day has a plan and I have set in my mind what I intend to accomplish, the order in which I will address all my work for the day; and, I’m already processing the strategies and manifesting the results in my mind before I climb into bed. When I wake up in the morning I know clearly what my game plan is, what can be adjusted if need be, and I’m ready to rock and roll starting with the most important priorities. I always get a lot more accomplished using this technique. When I miss this simple task, I am not as productive as I can be, sometimes plans don’t go as they should, and things are not attended to as precisely as they could be. It’s imperative to really be disciplined and stick to the tasks on the to-do list.

Productivity is an important aspect of every business.

Identifying where your strengths and weaknesses are, implementing specific time management strategies, and then improving on specific time management skills is a sure way to stay productive and attain your set goals. When my day has been very productive, it is a very satisfying feeling.

Wishing You Every Success Always,

Tags: time management

35 Responses to “Time Management Skills for Increasing Business Productivity”

Loren Greig

14. Sep, 2011

Wow William! You really have developed a great system that works for you and that’s become ingrained into your daily routine; we can all learn so much from that. That’s just it, isn’t it… creating habits out of the systems and techniques we learn so they help us be profitable producers; then, leveraging them.

I totally agree we can be a valuable resource for our children and provide them with the financial and entrepreneurial knowledge that is so lacking in our school systems today. This is the knowledge that will help them create income for life, more so than most college degrees. I, too, enjoyed Dawn’s tax advice to employ our children then leveraging that write-off. Too bad my children are too old to employ; but maybe one day I’ll have grandchildren to teach!

I always love and appreciate your valuable comments; thanks so much for your visit.

Loren
William Earl Amis, Jr. III

14. Sep, 2011

Loren,
I love your site and this topic is the fresh subject that everyone is still buzzing about.

I have a method of placing all mail and phone calls. Basically everything that needs activity in categories. Then I breeze through each item and just place a summary with name on my works projects/events program. Just on my computer.

It has been like this for years. So when someone calls I have my calendar to make sure of the time slot being open. When mail comes and I have to take action, I place it into my calendar.

This is a system that takes me no time. So before I go to bed, I hit the program and it put everything in order. Shows item and actions that need to be accomplish for that day.

This has been my method for over 20 years. However, I just placed my personal activities with business. Keeping to data bases was to much. I just merged them and it only takes a few minutes each day.

Trick is once you logged all items and type actions needed for each. It will keep growing with new items and deleting old completed ones.

No over thinking and no time. Everything is leveraged. Hey, teach your child the format to type with actions simple. Just as call, email, read, prepare video presentation. Then you can pay them and write if off on your taxes.

Read” the blog for TSA under tax advise. You help your child make money and you save time with money. This is true leverage.

Loren, thanks for allowing me to share my methods and I pray it helps your readers out. It works and simple plus free.
Willena Flewelling from 10 Steps to Success

14. Sep, 2011

All I can say is… some of us scattered types can learn a lot from you! Sometimes I feel like a hopeless case, because lists just don’t work for me. I love making lists, but all it does for me is lay it all out clearly. What works better for me is to write down a daily routine and stick to that.

Willena Flewelling
Willena Flewelling@10 Steps to Success recently posted..Know Exactly What You Want!
Dr. Bob Clarke

13. Sep, 2011

Hi Loren,

For me, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out just what the most important tasks are. It may appear obvious but when you have limited time and bunches of things to get accomplished, I find it can easily get bungled and confusing.

I have started using MindMaps to help me visualize my goals, my business and my life. I find i easier to organize when laid out visually rather than on lists. I also find it easier to identify those most important aspects of my business.

Thanks for putting this topic out there front and center. It’s so important!
Dr. Bob Clarke recently posted..“Have You Seen My Husband?”… My Very Personal Memories of September 11, 2001
Dewane Mutunga

13. Sep, 2011

Loren,

Time Management is so important, mainly because time is such a limited resource.

I’m a big fan of to-do lists and goal setting. I make 30-day, 90-day, 1 year, and 3 year goals. This always me to keep things in perspective and stay on track.
Dewane Mutunga recently posted..Creating Resource Pages: Why Optimizing Content is Important
Loren Greig

12. Sep, 2011

Right on Lynn! Using wise Time Management helps become very productive right down to the minute so we can place our attention on increased, high quality production! Thanks for adding your valuable comments; I really appreciate it!
Lynn Jones

11. Sep, 2011

Hi Loren,
Your article is Spot On! For me, I am in that process of clarify my goals, making my lists and endeavoring to implement them on a daily basis. In the past, It wasn’t a priority, but as fate would have it I am now keenly interested in this whole process of Time Management. I can see how critically important it is to get our lists in order and live by them.
Thanks Loren! I feel a kindred spirit with you on this one.
Lynn
Lynn Jones recently posted..The ABCDE Method. A Powerful Priority-Setting Technique
Loren Greig

08. Sep, 2011

Hi Holly,

Thanks so much for stopping by I always appreciate your thoughtful comments, and it’s great to hear that your list is priority! I also think of it as my list of deadlines, which gives me that ‘extra’ push to make sure I’m meeting my goals. Again, thanks for stopping by with your lovely energy.
Holly

08. Sep, 2011

I do write a to do list, but I must admit it doesn’t always get done… I make a point of writing it so that I have focus and sometimes, things just get in the way.( i likely let them!!– or i forget that something needed to get done..) That is my goal for the remainder of this year to make sure that I do my “to do” list and if it doesn’t get done, that which got left goes on the top for the next day. Totally relate to the satisfying feeling when what I plan gets done!
Holly recently posted..More and More People Have Food Sensitivities. Why Is That?
Loren Greig

07. Sep, 2011

Hi Louise,
Thanks for stopping by and adding your comments; I appreciate your visits. I’ve taken a look at Impact Ease Grid; I’m always interested in the different organizational and management tools. It has an easy worksheet for weeding out tasks that can be dumped; and I like the idea for delegating and outsourcing. Nice, simple tool; easy to follow instructions.
Loren Greig

07. Sep, 2011

Hi Kevin,
Thanks for re-visiting and adding your comments; I really appreciate it!
Melodie Kantner from Network Marketing Success

07. Sep, 2011

I am the queen of the “to do list.” It is vital to keep focused and on the important tasks.
Melodie Kantner@Network Marketing Success recently posted..How Attraction Marketing Helps You Love What You Do
Kevin Martineau

06. Sep, 2011

Hi Loren:

These are great tips for productivity. On Monday’s I set up my to-do list for each day of the week. This helps me break down my tasks into more bite size pieces. I do know though that I need to do a better job of doing the most important things first. I can be guilty of not doing this at times.

Kevin
Kevin Martineau recently posted..3 ways to manage stress
Theresa Torres

06. Sep, 2011

Hi Loren,
I keep a to-do-list in my Evernote. I read my list before starting my work for the day and it has helped me remain focused.
I used to be a procrastinator and it has landed me in trouble many times until I learned the value of doing a large job in small chunks until it is completed.
What I haven’t done and what I plan to do is to make a list for my long term goals. I like Marquita’s idea of making a list of her goals for the month/year and investing on that everyday.
Thanks for sharing your excellent time management strategies. Have a nice day!
Theresa Torres recently posted..Higher Education: Economic Boon or Bubble?
Louise Steiner from Social Media Marketing Strategies

06. Sep, 2011

Hi Loren….I think you must have written this article specifically for me It is such a timely reminder that I need to get organized again. I used to make my list the night before, exactly as you suggest, and my productivity was so much higher when I did that. Somehow the list fell by the wayside, but you have inspired me to reinstate it as of today. Thank you.

When it comes to prioritizing my tasks, I have found the ‘Impact Ease Grid’ to be a huge help. You basically list your tasks and then attach a value to each task according to how much impact the task will have on your business and with how much ease the task can be completed. You then plot these values on a graph and it sorts out which tasks need to be given priority and which tasks can be ditched.

Thank you again for the reminder to get organized.
Louise
Louise Steiner@Social Media Marketing Strategies recently posted..Simple Guide To Google Plus!
William Earl Amis, Jr. III

06. Sep, 2011

Loren,
this subject is a hot topic on everyone’s site. It seems too many people understand how important it is. Yet, make a small attempt at keeping it going.

We all understand the to do list and focus on activity that is productive. So many of us fail to be persistent based on the non-excitement of creating the list.

Everyone must find their own excitement in the work that is needed to become successful. Without a daily list you will not accomplish task that will get you where you are needing to go.

Loren thanks for all your support for your readers and I. Looking forward in your next new article.
William Earl Amis, Jr. III recently posted..Awe
Loren Greig

06. Sep, 2011

Hi Ralph,

Thanks for stopping by and adding your comments; it is very much appreciated. I agree, getting rid of distractions and remaining focused on our goals is a biggie! Great work!
Loren Greig

06. Sep, 2011

Hi Rachel,

Thanks for stopping by and adding your comments. It is very much appreciated. You brought up some excellent points; don’t wait until the last minute to get things done and a useful way to overcome procrastination is exactly as you mention, schedule small chunks over a period of days to complete a project. For me, it’s important to work with a Goals Report and meet my deadlines so that I am always working toward an end result. Always focused achieving it is much more satisfying than fluffing around with distractions and being scattered.
Ralph

06. Sep, 2011

Good stuff! I think eliminating distractions is huge! The way I see it, when something needs to get done, and doesn’t get done, it is because something else took its place.

Learning to get rid of my distractions has been one of the best things I could have done for myself and business
Loren Greig

05. Sep, 2011

Hi Raena Lynn,

Thanks for stopping by and adding your comments; it is very much appreciated. You’ve added a valuable tip: preparing a to-do list prior to going to bed seeds our thoughts and actions; thereby, helping to reduce distractions the next day. Taking valuable action such as this, and seeing its results, is an important step to creating consistent action and a big step toward our business success. Thanks again!
Loren Greig

05. Sep, 2011

Hi Erica,

Thanks for stopping by and adding your comments; I always appreciate your valuable input! I like your idea of long term and short term lists and goal types; and also relate to the difficulties of focus in this industry; there are so many interesting areas to distract us. When I seriously began managing my work day I had to begin with something simple and tangible that I could put my hands on, carry with me, open and read. For me that was a separate day-timer specific for my work and work break scheduling. It really helped me become disciplined and accountable for the blocks of time I scheduled. My issue problem was working at the computer for long hours to the point of exhaustion, yet falling short of what I set out to accomplish. Though there are many online tools for time management, I also still create a hard copy to-do list and schedule that I keep visible and handy at all times.
Raena Lynn

04. Sep, 2011

Hi Loren,

Thanks you for this post on business goal setting. We have to have a plan in order to manifest success. I was a part of a program and attended a “time management” course and the instructor made a statement that time cannot be managed. We manage our lives.

The goals you listed are:

1. Set long and short term goals
2. Prioritize the most important and most productive tasks
3. Create and adhere to a “to-do list”
4. Stay focused and committed to the task at hand; avoiding distractions

Your list is very good and a great way to start the process.
I specifically agree with the idea of preparing a To Do List prior to going to bed. I also do the same thing and so when the next day arrives, it is much easier to reduce distractions because the thoughts have already been “planted’ the prior evening.

Your suggestions are sure ways to succeed of action is taken. Thanks.

Raena Lynn
Raena Lynn recently posted..Driving Your Dreams To Reality
Dr. Erica Goodstone

04. Sep, 2011

Loren,
What a valuable lesson it is to learn how to manage time. I love your statement about the necessity of “placing focus on results rather than on all the things that need to be accomplished.” That is one of the areas I have had difficulty with.

I have made long to-do lists and had so many distractions and interferences (e.g.,. computer problems), and some of the items were on the list for months – and not getting accomplished. But I have discovered that if I just keep going, just keep handling what is in front of me to handle (e.g., writing a chapter for a book with an immediate deadline), then eventually all those other details WILL get handled.

Now I have long term to-do lists and short term lists. Then, with one of my mastermind buddies, I create 3 types of goals for each 2 week period (Minimum Goals, Target Goals, and Outrageous Goals). This format is really uplifting because I usually accomplish most, if not all, of the minimum goals. That way I can feel good and know I accomplished something. If I achieve any of the other goals, that is a bonus. This process energizes me.

Erica
Dr. Erica Goodstone recently posted..How Old is Old Enough? Reflections on Compulsive Aging by Guest Blogger Jeanne Denney
Loren Greig

04. Sep, 2011

Thanks for stopping by and adding your valuable comments David. It is very much appreciated.You hit the nail right on the head when you said we need a disciplined approach to business success. To grow business it’s essential to stick to the biggest revenue generating priorities and not play around with the trivial stuff!
David Merrill

03. Sep, 2011

This is an important post, Loren.

Without a real disciplined approach to success, we just spin our wheels and get into a deeper and deeper rut of failure.

I especially like your emphasis of starting your work day with the “high pay-off” tasks. I’ve consulted with too many people who get many many things done on a daily basis, but never progress simply because they are not working hard enough on those things that make their business grow. They focus too much on things that just maintain their status quo, like making FB comments and opening their emails instead of creating a new product, or sending out an email blast to their auto-responder list.

Thanks for the guidance, Loren.
David Merrill recently posted..How To Be A Profit “Producer”, Not A Run-of-the-Mill “Multi-Tasker”
Rachel Lavern from Live for Success

03. Sep, 2011

A simple but overlooked strategy to time management is to always meet your deadlines. Most procrastinators and time-wasters will wait until the day before the deadline.

I schedule small chunks to be completed one at a time. I may schedule a report to be worked on two hours a day for the next five days. Or maybe I will break it up into hour segments. Either way is fine as long as I work my plan. This is merely common sense; however, you would be
surprised as to how many men and women are ruined by putting off their tasks until near the end of the deadline. By breaking this habit you can start working on them long before they are due and the quality of your work will reign supreme.

Time management is not at all complex to integrate into our life–it simply takes discipline.
Rachel Lavern@Live for Success recently posted..Feel the Fear…
Loren Greig

02. Sep, 2011

Hi Marc,

Thanks for stopping by and adding your comments; it is very much appreciated! I always love to hear the “ugly frog quote”, it paints a great image and makes me chuckle every time! Brian Tracy is a wonderful, wise mentor… choosing the hardest most important task first is not only particularly satisfying to complete, it makes all other tasks seem easy to breeze through in comparison. You brought up another really valuable point and that is being able to say NO to things that take our focus away from income generating tasks. It’s so important to avoid the distractions that take us away from growing our business, after all, we are in business for a purpose… to generate healthy income.
Marc Korn

02. Sep, 2011

Hi Loren,

Thanks for another great post with great tips for achieving a more productive day.

It is so important to have a plan for your day and that starts with your written to do list.

I love the fact that you start your day by accomplishing the tasks that are most important to your business.

My time management guru, Brian Tracy would say ” If You Have to Eat Two Frogs, Eat the Ugliest one First”

So, if you have two important tasks before you, start with the hardest and most important task first. Discipline yourself to begin immediately and then to keep at it until the task is complete before you go on to something else.

If you don’t do this, it will tend to lead to procrastination and that is very counter productive.

Another important aspect of time management is to learn to say “NO” to requests and tasks that will take your focus away from the income generating and as you said ” high payoff aspects” of your business.

It is important to continue to work on your time management skills, because it will eliminate a lot of needless stress and allow you to reach your goals more quickly.

Keep inspiring us,
Marc
Marc Korn recently posted..The Confidence Factor | FREE Personal Assessment By Brian Tracy
Loren Greig

02. Sep, 2011

Hi Marty,

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your comments. I really appreciate your visit and love the way you’ve got easy access to your tasks and how you’ve split them into 2 sections. I have mine in hard-copy because I like to read it like a book and hold it, but I’m going to take a tip from you and split it into 2 pages or on a spreadsheet for easy access on the computer. The visuals are a great idea too!
marquita herald from live.com

02. Sep, 2011

Terrific article and list Loren. I LIVE by my to do list! I how it helps me stay focused. My list is on my computer and it’s two pages – the first page covers my priorities for the day – BIG rocks first … continuing on to the second page I have listed my goals for the month/year. This helps me to make sure that every day I’m investing time on things that will get me where I want to go. I also have several thumbnail images representing my goals – personally, visuals really help me. Thanks for the great information!
marquita herald@live.com recently posted..Time to Revisit, Rethink, Rejuvenate Goals
Loren Greig

02. Sep, 2011

Hi Donna,

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your comments. It is very much appreciated!

It’s so great that you’re fired up and ready to get that list done! In fact, I bet by now it’s already prioritized.
Being disciplined with my list is an ongoing study for me… but I make myself stay committed to it so I can
get the results I’m driving for. I hope you get the same results and wish you every success always!
Donna Merrill

02. Sep, 2011

Loren, this couldn’t have come on a more timely basis! As I endeavor a new project, there has been nothing but distractions. So much so, that I was thinking of getting a hotel room for a day or so just to write! You have reinforced my mindset and am making my list after this comment. It is like you put fire behind me with your awesome strategies.
I thank you so much
Donna
Loren Greig

01. Sep, 2011

Hi Jeffrey,

Being laser focused and persistent is key and these words come up a lot for me; they’re almost a part of my life-blood! But without focus and commitment to the tasks at hand, it’s impossible to be 100% productive in the time frame we are managing. Time and project management is a very, very valuable tool. Thanks so much for stopping by again. I always appreciate your thoughtful input.
Jeffrey Sooey

01. Sep, 2011

I agree with all your points Loren. Eliminating distractions is also one of those things we have to do. This mean that we have to get rid of those tasks that do not add any value or are just not worth the effort.

Thanks for sharing..

Jeff
Jeffrey Sooey recently posted..How To Be Discovered As A Life Coach Online?