Time is a valuable commodity in the world of business, especially for entrepreneurs.
While business can change in an instant, there's one constant, solid thing, and that is time. The better you can learn to work with time, the better off your business will be in the long run.
Here are four time management skills to help you maximize every minute of your workday.
1. Time estimation
Time estimation is an extremely valuable skill to have as an entrepreneur.
The more accurate you can be in your time estimations when it comes to completing tasks, projects, and assignments, the better off you'll be when it comes to creating business plans. You can hone your time estimation skills anywhere, at any time, in any area of your work. All you need is an inquisitive mind.
How long will it take to receive an order from a vendor? How long will it take to write a brief email to a customer? What about completing an assignment for a client? Use your past experiences as a baseline for future time estimations. Consider initial estimations, actual completion time, as well as any delays or interruptions.
2. Punctuality
If you want to improve your punctuality skills quickly, you need to take two key steps to start.
First, you need to make yourself visibly aware of the current time and tell the truth about your current interactions with time. If you don't already do so, wear a wristwatch or smartwatch on your wrist, use an audible alert on your desktop, or set a timer on your tablet or laptop. Simply being made aware of the time will go a long way in your interactions with the clock.
Once you're familiar with the passage of time, you can start asking yourself key time management questions.
Do you make a point to plan your travel or commute arrangements so you'll arrive promptly? Are you prone to work on one last thing at work before you leave for an appointment? Do you tell yourself you have plenty of time at your disposal when reality says otherwise? Your honesty will help you identify what needs to change when it comes to your approach toward time management.
3. Patience
No matter your industry or market, things take time to grow, develop, and manifest.
That being said, it's important to hone and practice patience in your work. Make a point to fully tap into and experience the present moment in all its glory. What can you be grateful for right now in your business? What have you completed, finished, or overcome in the past few weeks and months? Every accomplishment, no matter how seemingly small or trivial, is helping to build your business.
Above all, be gentle with yourself. If you're feeling frustrated or annoyed by a lack of visible forward motion in an area of business, turn your attention toward something else and know that things will unfold in their own time.
4. Improvisation
There will be times in your work when you don't have the full picture.
Information, materials, and resources may be incomplete, unconfirmed, or untested. This is a perfect time to practice improvisation. Learn how to make do with the time and resources available to you at any given moment.
An easy way to do this is to think of your work in terms of small, bite-size tasks. What can you accomplish in small pockets or chunks of time? If you have five minutes, brainstorm an idea for a new product, make a few phone calls, or review a website. If you have only a minute, take a few deep breaths, review your to-do list, or make a quick note about an upcoming assignment. If you have no minutes available, go with the flow and know you'll find an adequate solution in due time.
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