[su_dropcap style=”flat”]T[/su_dropcap]HE MARKET has not fully recovered from the severe shocks, and uncertainty still hangs in the air. Staying flexible is the only way to sail through the shabby muddle into a thriving land of growth and prosperity. You got to keep your business running smooth and engage in some fine tuning of operations. Alas, when you are pressed by deadlines, and surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the modern business world, it is easy to lose track of time. Therefore, it has never been more important to focus on things that matter. Small changes make a big difference when they add up, so it is time to get organized.
Assembly line workflows
When Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing with assembly lines, he probably did not suspect that his recipe will be applied to creative processes and modern business operations. For example, when you have to deal with different sales phases, you have to do some outreach, development and closing. It makes more sense to do everything in one phase and then move on to the next one. The reason is that once we focus onto something, our mindset adjusts to the activity ahead. Hence, doing similar tasks in blocks spurs better results than dispersing your attention by doing this and that. Ensure the productivity with smart workflows and get all the ducks in the row.
Money on my mind
One of the most important business aspects is the way consumers pay for your products and services. People adore online shopping for its convenience, but they still want a safe and efficient payment method. There is no shortage of service providers and gateways in this area, which is why businessman and online retailers needs to make sense of many different options. Luckily, solutions like Promise Pay are solid gateways that conduct the payment integration for you, making both yours and your customer’s life much easier. Integration is otherwise a snap, but now only a few transaction details need to be completed before you are up and running.
Lines of communication
There is no need to hold lengthy, exhausting meetings every day, as they are great time wasters. So, limit their time and see to it that only essential participants attend. Moreover, with the blessings of modern technology, you do not even have to sit tight for hours in a conference room. Chat programs save you a ton of time, and this goes for good old emails too. Filter them to identify spam and scam, and avoid overwhelming social media and promotional messages. Employ a zero inbox policy, and keep your email correspondence professional and running like clockwork.
Socializing
We all know quite well the benefits of social media, but there is a dark side to them as well. Networks like Facebook and Twitter are jam-packed with distractions and content that pulls you in. Thus, it is a good idea to close all your accounts for a scheduled amount of time each day. Bouncing between tasks and tweets, likes, and comments only wastes precious time and impedes your ability to focus. If you need to connect with people and manage business contacts, then LinkedIn is an appropriate place for that. LinkedIn groups can help you gain insights into any industry and skills you seek to acquire.
All systems go
If your business is getting more complex, emails, to-do lists and calendars may not cut it. To keep their enterprise on track, many business owners opt for content management systems (CMS). They have a plethora of features: One can set and track tasks, store documents, manage projects, synchronize different teams and communicate with employees. Platforms like Basecamp are great for newcomers as they are easy-to-use and inexpensive. Solutions like Slack are also all-in-one social communication tools, apart from being excellent CMSs. There are dozens of other systems tailored to specific business needs and industry requirements.
A matter of time
We all want to focus on running and growing our businesses, not piles of paperwork, tedious meetings and junk mail. Well, you cannot hope that these nuisances will just pass you by. They are vying for your attention and undermining your productivity. Well, the good news is that by using modern technology, and in some cases only organizational skills, we can avoid working against the clock. You only need to work smarter, not longer in order to reach your goals. Think on your feet and make light work of daily tasks. Go an extra mile by optimizing your business, and have time as your close ally, not bitter foe.
