[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Part of funding businesses with Cast Capital is taking a critical look at a company’s day to day habits. Some processes help an organization, others hurt it. While speaking with these companies, we regularly share some of the insights we’ve accumulated up over the years to improve productivity. From getting to know thousands of small business owners, we’ve discovered it all. Everything from the ridiculous to the obvious (most of it is reasonably obvious). For small businesses in America, productivity is extremely important. Looking busy is easy, but making sure your time is being spent wisely and worth every second is a constant challenge. Here are some points for stay productive that you might not be aware of. Give them a try and let us know what you think![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Have two monitors” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1512670970196{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Having two screens to look at and multitask on is great for keeping you busy. Operators can divide up their tasks between their two monitors. It also is good for when using one screen to reference info that is kept on another – as appose to jumping between tabs. Remember to turn up the sensitivity of your mouse when doing this![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Do your “in-between“ tasks” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1512674520609{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]You’d be surprised just how much of our workday is spent waiting. We pause when the phone is ringing, when we are downloading something, anticipating to speak to a manager/partner, etc. These downtimes can be a fabulous opportunity! It’s pleasant to have those 2 mins as a quick breather. However, if you are feeling extra motivated, we would definitely recommend having a list of short “in-between” tasks. These tasks are ones that are repetitive in nature and only take about 30 seconds. Examples of these types of responsibilities include posting on social media, checking in with a lead, cleaning your desk, double checking your task list, organizing files – the list goes on and on. At first, these smaller tasks may not seem that significant, but doing them over time can make a difference![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Automate!” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1512671626539{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Anything repetitive that you are doing, just ask yourself, how can I automate this? One thing we do once every few months is taking a list of all tools and applications we are currently using and look for integrations that support them. You’d be surprised how many tools you are using integrate with each other. You may even discover new platforms that could be useful to you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Save the tasks you enjoy the most for later in day” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1512672573090{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]In other words, get the tedious work out of the way first. You’ll be glad you did. After that, the rest of the day will seem easy. And when the work is enjoyable and easy, you can get more done. Unfortunately, we all have those tasks that we would rather not do. It can be composing that email or compiling a spreadsheet. In most small companies these are inescapable. It’s easier to work late too if you are doing a task that you enjoy. But if you are thinking about working too late, the next item on the list is for you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Don’t work too late” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1512672948178{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Working late sounds like a good idea. And for some people is. But it has some bad side effects. First of all, the work we do when we are tired tends not to be that productive. So it’s better to use that time resting than struggling to get through a project. You’re also more likely to get sick if you are overworked. It’s normal for productivity to fluctuate during the day. When we experience those minor feelings of tiredness, it can be helpful to grab a quick snack or get some fresh air. But when we are fatigued late in the day, the best thing is rest to recharge for the next day.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Enjoy your work!” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1512673520056{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Ultimately, the best approach to be productive is to love what you do. If you have a passion for your business, you’ll find that the work day flies by![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Menu