How Do I 'Buy' Myself Time?

The South Australian Business Chamber Today — Thursday 7 October, 2021

As a business owner, do you seem to be working IN it rather than ON it? Here are some top tips that you can follow, and while we can’t create more time in the day, we know that these strategies will give you some more headspace to lead your business:

TOP 10 TIPS

1. The primary purpose of the business is to serve your life, not the other way around. Don’t be a slave to your business at the expense of maintaining a reasonable quality of life.
2. Create business results that are systems-dependent, not people-dependent. Excellent systems and processes can insulate the business to a certain degree, in the event of losing staff.
3. Don’t fall into the trap of being a crisis manager, waiting for a problem to arise that needs attention. Since your tasks are self-appointed, be disciplined enough to write your own job description, then stick to it. Don’t spend your time solving other people’s problems.
4. It would help if you looked at what could or should happen next year or three years from now. Focus on the big picture and don’t get dragged down to the micro-level.
5. Don’t be the first one in and the last one out of the office every day. It would be best if you were out and about talking to customers, making new contacts, attending industry association events, and getting ideas.
6. It is your responsibility to inspire and engage, as well as coach and develop your people. Flesh out a plan as to how you are going to do that, then execute.
7. Commonly used, readily available, and inexpensive hardware (mobile phones, laptops, iPads etc.) and software (email etc.) allow you to be off-site but still available. Please take advantage of it.
8. You are not an effective leader when you get bogged down in simple details that your team could be working on. Empower them. Build trust, then delegate. The only person within your business with an absolute growth mindset is you. Every minute you spend working on these tasks is a minute that you are not planning, strategising and building the best business possible.
9. Hire people that are better than you are across specific and valid areas. Strive for a business that is as good as the collective rather than just you. You and the business will both be better off. Great leaders know they don’t have all the answers and surround themselves with the right talent.
10. It would help if you had a business growth plan. Not just in your head but written down. An articulated goal, objective, and strategies lead to a plan. Having a plan significantly increases your chances of growing.

We are a member-led organisation and we exist to help our members grow their business. To find out more, please contact our Business Growth Consultants David Walker and Simon Romaniuk .

David and Simon are currently offering SME members a one-on-one, complimentary, obligation-free business growth consultation.