If you’re worried that you’re wasting too much time and money running a business, you’re not on your own. Let’s face it: most of us are inefficient. We buy too much and we spend too long on things that aren’t important. Though we can’t make you a lean, mean productivity machine in one article, we’ve rounded up some tips on becoming more efficient every day…

Cut the ancillary staff

Though you might think that cleaners, security guards, and bookkeepers are needed in-house to make your business run like clockwork, the chances are that they’re wasting a lot of their time hanging around and not being particularly productive. Rather than paying for a full-time cleaner or security guard, consider outsourcing to a specialist such as Precision Facilities Management, as it lowers your overheads and offers efficient essential services.

Work from home

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we can work from home and be just as productive as we would be in the office. Although there are indeed benefits of having an office for your business, working from home at least a few days per week – and encouraging your staff to do the same – cuts down on travel expenses and time, and allows you to get more done. Rather than driving an hour to work, you can start work an hour early and fit more into your schedule, or wrap up an hourly early to spend more time with the kids.

Avoid meetings

No, really! How many hours of your week do you spend in unnecessary or overrun meetings, waiting to get off the call or leave the boardroom? Cutting down the number of meetings you take can significantly boost your productivity and help you get more done. Only agree to a meeting if it cannot be done over email, and if you do succumb, limit them to an hour tops.

Be proactive, not reactive

Spending some time getting to know your staff and their day-to-day routine might seem like a time sink, and though it does require some patience, it can help you to identify problems before they manifest. Proactive responses to issues such as absenteeism, lack of training, or poor customer service skills can give your business a competitive edge and ultimately make you more efficient in the long-run. Check-in with staffers every week to iron out any kinks.

Limit social media usage

Finally, consider uninstalling WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter from your smartphone so you can focus on business tasks during the day. As tempting as it can be to check-in, the truth is that social media is a time-sucker and will make you less productive. You could even think about outsourcing your social media management to another company so you never have to log into your accounts; it’ll free up time and ensure you’re not getting distracted in the office.