Attention: Women Entrepreneurs – how many of these business coaching tips do you need to implement to boost your productivity?
Guest Post: Erica Bell
Women entrepreneurs are often focused on balance. From the starting a business to friends to family and more, there are many aspects of a woman’s life, each requiring her attention. 
Productivity in business is difficult for any entrepreneur, including women, as there is so much that goes into getting a business off the ground. Here are 4 quick tips for staying productive in business.
Business Coaching Tip 1: Focus on “The Big Picture”
Instead of spending so much time focused on the minute details of each project, focus on the end result. Deadlines make us thrive, which is why college students often put off papers until the last minute and a number of adults pay bills right when they’re due. Focusing on the big picture will reduce the amount of time spent micro-managing the little things.
- Deadlines for major projects, and not minor ones, will contribute to a more productive workday.
- Streamline recurring tasks so you spend less time dealing with each responsibility individually and are able to more efficiently run your business.
- Look to the outcome, not the output. Quality matters much more. Instead of focusing on the numbers, focus on the quality of your products, whether it’s a spreadsheet or handbag.
Business Coaching Tip 2: Say No
It’s okay to say “No” every now and then when things become overwhelming. When there are fewer action items on your plate, it’s easier to prioritize each for a better end result. If there is too much going on, projects may not be of the quality you were expecting when completed.
- Next time someone asks you for something you really can’t spend adequate time dedicated to, politely say “no” and provide your coworker with an alternate option.
- If you are the only one who can sign-off on a pitch or handle whatever has been presented, ask for a reasonable deadline for completion instead of trying to complete the task hastily.
Business Coaching Tip 3: Schedule Tasks by ROI
Prioritizing different responsibilities can become confusing, especially when deadlines coincide. Schedule your different tasks by the return on investment each will yield. If you look into the potential benefits and pitfalls that accompany each task and the time it takes for them to completed, you’ll find it easier to prioritize and schedule the different duties.
- Determine what your end goal is with each task and whether or not having the item as a higher priority is the best option. Can one thing be delayed temporarily while you focus on other projects that yield a greater ROI?
- You should schedule time for browsing the internet, taking a walk, or talking by the water cooler. When you set aside time for breaks, you can spend the rest of your time more focused and productive.
Business Coaching Tip 4: Organize Everything
Entrepreneurs and CEOs alike need to be organized. Whether it’s a weekly or daily list that helps you become more productive, make sure you’re organized. On average, each person wastes 4.3 hours per week shuffling papers. Reduce the amount of disorganized papers in your workspace to save valuable time that can be directed toward a more important aspect of your business.
- Clear your desk of clutter and make sure files needed on a regular basis are within reach. File cabinets and folders are a few of the easiest ways to start organizing paperwork.
- Set aside time for expected inbound calls and a different time for returning calls. By blocking off times for calls, you’ll have fewer distractions than if you were to answer and return every call throughout the day.
Women entrepreneurs need balance in their lives. Every entrepreneur is looking for a way to be more productive at work and home. By scheduling tasks, focusing on major projects, and better organizing files and responsibilities, productivity improvement is a snap. Don’t let the business plans overwhelm you! Schedule out time for breaks so you can stay focused and remain productive during the workday.
Author Bio: Erica Bell is a small business writer who focuses on topics such as how to start a small business and business planning. She is a web content writer for Business.com.
YOUR SAY:
What do you think? As a woman in business do you need to be more vigilant in each of these 4 areas? Which business coaching tip do you think will make the most impact to your productivity? Which business coaching tip will you implement first? Let me know! It’s always nice to hear from you and learn about what’s happening in your business!
You can lose a lot of time in business just by looking for things. Being organized will save you time and interestingly enough. There are many ways to become organized .
Hi Emily, I don’t think business owners realise just how much money they are wasting by not being organised. By looking at ways to increase your personal efficiency and being more productive can do wonders to your bottomline. What are some of the things you have done to become more organised Emily? Love to hear more about them! Best, Annemarie
Continue the wonderful good article, I just read couple of articles about this web page.
Hi Aprille, lovely to meet you – I’m glad you found the article helpful. It’s such a great reminder for us all, who can find their attention easily being distracted!
Thanks for tips/ To remain productive in business.- it is very important for men as well, probably even more, then for women.
For sure your recommendations are good for everyone, thank you.
Hi Elthon, thanks for stopping by. Wow, I thought it was only us women who were easily distracted! Well, I’m glad to hear you found the tips helpful!
Thank you for sharing this article, Annemarie! It’s a great one! The tip about focusing on the big picture helps me to no end. Sometimes I can get caught up in the minute details and feel overwhelmed!
My own biz tip re: Organization – I have my paper aspect down to one notebook that I use for ideas, written meditations and business writings. The rest of my files are electronic, stored in Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) – where your files are auto-saved immediately as you finish making each change to the doc. SO helpful!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your tip Astra. I have so many notebooks (I LOVE stationery) and wouldn’t want to live without them. I’m often jotting down notes and ideas – there’s something special about being able to put pen to paper to get those creative juices flowing. I have not used Google Drive much, however it sounds like a great resource!
It’s very difficult to handle a lot of things for someone who’s running a business. It’s even more challenging if you’re a woman who’s got lots of responsibilities like taking care of the family, household chores, etc.
I have to agree especially on #3. One secret to greater productivity is keeping track and organizing tasks and ideas in list. Personally, bringing a notebook wherever you go is a huge help. So, whenever I go to the grocery or run some errands, I could jot down some ideas or I could keep my priorities in check.
Some great additional tips which I’m sure others will find helpful. Thanks for sharing!
I completely agree with Guzeman that its more hard for women to handle business alone as she has to balance personal & professional life. She has home responsibility like kids or family care.
Annemarie, the main 4 tips that you have shared for business productivity are great. Thanks for nice tips & looking forward for more.
Thanks Kristen, yes, being a woman in business certainly has it’s challenges, however personally, I have had a great support team behind me and of course a husband who helped out whenever and where-ever he could. It’s important to have a great support team behind you. While we like to think we are super woman AND can do lots of things at once, it doesn’t mean we should as we will only wear ourselves down. It’s important to have that balance for sure!