Efficiency - 11 Techniques To Improve Your Efficiency
“What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.”
― Timothy Ferriss ―
Inspired by a highly recommended book on efficiency:
During the 4 years of existence of our digital agency, we have learned and become more and more efficient every year. I want to share with you 11 simple techniques that will enable you to streamline your time in person and save time where needed.
Working with 2 screens
For years we worked each with one screen, only our key worked with 2 screens. In the past year, we have added a screen to each of us so that we all work with 2 screens. Every screen has a browser with other tabs open and the transition between sites (Mail, Google Drive) is much faster and more efficient.
If for example, you want to give the customer comments on his site, then on the on-screen the site will be open on the second screen. This alone shorter processes considerably, and you can do the calculation alone when it comes to dozens or hundreds of such interactions a day.
Stand-up
No, i׳m not talking about a comedy show :-) The term "stand-up" is taken from the world of the Start-up. Start-up teams start the morning with a review of the status of each person's tasks for the day. in many cases, the review is done standing up (from here stand up), but of course, this is not mandatory.
This process, which is supposed to take something like 5-10 minutes each morning, puts the employees (and you) into a daily routine and allows you to create smart priorities on the on hand and focus on important tasks on the other.
Work with software tasks
There is no such thing as "remembering in the mind". All your tasks should be written. Many of us simply collect all the tasks by e-mail and even send out e-mails with tasks. We׳ve done that for a long time, but working with an external To-Do List, or beyond, external project management software (such as Trello, with which we work) will improve your efficiency.
Once there is too much "on your head" or your email is flooded with tasks, you can not maintain focus and mobility, you get a load of your eyes and miss a few things.
With a task management system, as employers, you can make sure what tasks are open to each, what tasks are handled what tasks are waiting for a third party and which tasks have already been addressed.
Daily Summary
Similar to section 2 (Stand Up), this technique also takes a few minutes to make sure your employees take advantage of the workday properly.
5-10 minutes before each and of the day, each employee can sand you (or back to his team \ department) and email with all the things he has done that day. It does not have to be a 50 line e-mail digger, but a concise e-mail that summarizes in short points all the tasks that have been done, and tasks or comments that need your attention. If you apply the stand-up properly, a daily summary technique is not always necessary.
Start with the heavy tasks in the morning
Have you reached the office? Did you drink coffee? This is the best time to go through your heavy tasks and move on with them. If you postpone the heavy tasks to the end of the day, one of to things will happen: Either postpone them to the next day, or you will be tired and not focused and will not perform them efficiently enough.
If there is a task that you must do and you are constantly rejecting and rejecting, you will save time on the joint schedule, and everyone knows not to disturb you while you have allotted for it.
Adjust the tasks
It is not always possible, but try to give your employees tasks not only in the narrow field they are dealing with. Once someone does one of the same kind all day, for the duration of his work, he degenerates and does not learn new things on a daily basis. For example: find new web tools in the field, write an article for a blog, find collaborations and so on.
Use appropriate software and tools
Using tools (free \ paid) can save you valuable processes and time. Lets׳s take tree simple and banal examples that you seem to be implementing.
A. You can issue invoices with a notebook and mail them to each customer, and you can use a system of invoices on the Internet and do everything online and in a much faster and easier way.
B. You can check the location in Google by manually searching the incognito window for each customer you promote organic, and you can work with automatic placement software.
C. Do you run campaigns that are paying customers on Facebook? You can log in with each customer's email and password, or simply work with the business manager and get permission to manage each client's ads in one place. I've mentioned tree pretty stray examples, but you can throw it away at many other tasks you do on a daily basis, and tools have been developed that can shorten your processes.
Build automated processes
The more automated the processes, the fewer questions, and less obvious matters. For example, what happens when a deal is closed with a new customer? Build a process that will be written and clear to everyone concerned: The salesperson updated the CRM, sends an email with details of the transaction to the manager and email with relevant details to the portfolio manager will open a new project in the software with which he works, the account manager will contact the customer regarding the payment and will issue an invoice.
Do you have customers who call you every day and the situation does not improve? Sometimes giving up a customer only benefit you. This point is important and relevant not only to customers, even if you have suppliers who talk more then do, or like to spend your time before a new project or making a payment, it is also a song that it is time to find another provider.
Only those who need to be in a meeting will be in a meeting
Have a meeting with an existing/new customer? You do not have to bring the entire department to the meeting. If you need your help (or the help of another staff member) for a certain part of the meeting, then, of course, it is possible and will be much more efficient for all of you.
Comments