Do more. Earn more. Make more. When people think of the word “productivity,” it often brings to mind thoughts of more, more, more. We don’t think that way, however. When we talk to clients about productivity, we look for ways to work smarter, not harder, to reach business goals.
A Productive Person vs. a Productive Business Owner
Productivity often begins at the top with the business leader. Are you a productive person or a productive business owner? They are not the same. A productive person churns out a lot of work or tasks themselves. A productive business owner creates systems that work for them to create results.
What is Productivity?
Productivity in a business can be defined by how efficient a company is in using their talents, labor and capital to create and deliver their products and services, and thrive. It can include:
- Personal productivity: how each individual accomplishes their daily tasks.
- Team productivity: how the group unites to reach a common goal.
- Laborforce productivity: how everyone in the company contributes to the company’s success.
- Sector & national productivity: how your company and similar companies fare in the economy.
Is Your Company Productive?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have company goals?
- Am I able to reach those company goals?
- Am I reaching my sales goals?
Chances are, your answers are “no” to one or more of these questions. If that’s true, you’re not alone. You may have set your company goals, but are having a difficult time achieving them. Or your sales aren’t what you expected. It’s hard to find a business owner who claims that their company is 100% on track. There are always ways to improve productivity.
How Can Business Owners Help Increase Productivity?
Some of the ways business owners can increase productivity for themselves and their team members might include:
- Making “to-do” lists, assigning due dates, and tracking progress.
- Setting schedules.
- Creating accountability.
- Using improved technology to improve communication, manage tasks, organize flow, or track time; becoming efficient in technology.
- Removing distractions and obstacles like too many meetings or lack of efficient and updated technology.
- Identifying and tracking metrics.
- Increasing scale.
- Remembering the “why” you started your business as motivation for yourself and your team.
- Taking breaks to rejuvenate, refresh, and activate creative thought.
Pitfalls that can work against productivity include:
- Being “busy” rather than productive. Just because you work long hours, doesn’t mean those hours are productive. Productivity is measured by output.
- Too many meetings. People need time to work, and an overabundance of, or inefficient meetings can eat into that time. Set an agenda and time limits for essential meetings.
- Getting lost in email. In 2022, around 40 work emails are sent, and between 100 and 120 work emails are received each day, according to Earthweb’s email data & statistics. Three hours a day are spent on checking work email, with an additional two hours checking personal email.
Overcome Productivity Challenges with Guidance from the Association for Enterprise Growth
At the Association for Enterprise Growth (AEG), helping businesses grow is our mission. We work closely with business owners to foster trusted relationships, tackle difficult business and individual challenges, and create an integrated growth strategy.
Need help? AEG can refer a great professional advisor to work with you on refining your company goals and creating a productivity system that works for your business. Learn more here or contact AEG for information on our business growth services.
