When you’re an entrepreneur, your business is your life’s work. You invest hundreds of hours to build the company, hire your team, and generate new leads. However, the time spent on administrative work or constantly checking your inbox can take your focus away from what matters.
A few simple strategies can help you spend less time on administrative tasks and more time growing your company.
Consider an online PO box
Sometimes, it all comes down to something as simple as time management. There could be many time-saving opportunities throughout your day. The key is identifying and exploiting those windows through effective planning.
For example, many entrepreneurs spend far too much time manually managing mail, but you can skip your trips to the post office by signing up for an online PO box. This tool will allow you to view, sort, shred, and forward mail with just a few clicks, freeing a significant chunk of your daily schedule.
Hire a diligent virtual assistant
There are numerous benefits to hiring a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants can perform all the tasks an employee would, except they are at your disposal on a per-project basis. Some of the main reasons why a virtual assistant could be helpful include:
- Relieve stress if you have an unmanageable workload
- A cost-effective option if you cannot afford a full-time employee
- Quality work on a project that requires skills you do not have
There’s no shame in seeking help, especially when that help could maximize your overall efficiency.
Turn to Fiverr or Upwork
Upwork and Fiverr are convenient platforms for hiring freelance help. You can post a job and then sort through multiple proposals at your convenience. You can also interview potential freelancers and see if they are a good fit before initiating an interview or first contact. These platforms save you time by connecting you with millions of passionate professionals looking for work.
Develop templates for emails and other critical documents
Templates provide an easy way to save time on recurring processes, especially emails. Sometimes you send the same message over and over, just to different clients or vendors. Having a template system in place will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Host fewer meetings
Meetings are an excellent way to put you, your employees, and business partners on the same page. However, is there a way to eliminate parts of these meetings or meetings altogether?
If there is a better way to communicate the meeting’s information, explore other alternatives. Sometimes redundant meetings can diminish the value of the information communicated.
Delegate tasks to trusted team members
Building dynamic teams come with many advantages. If you have trusted employees, you can delegate administrative tasks like training, payroll, and customer service. That way, you can invest more time into the creative process behind the business.
Utilize mobile applications to save more time
There are many mobile applications at your fingertips that can perform critical administrative tasks. There is an app for everything, whether it involves scheduling meetings, conducting outreach, or organizing your current customers. Laying out your day in advance with an app could be a difference-maker for your daily productivity.
Wrap up
Running your business should not feel like just another job. You deserve to apply your skills and passions to best benefit your business. Utilize these tips to spend less time on administrative work and more time innovating new business ideas.
