Get Some Time Back By Reducing Manual Work
Written by: Rachel Everington, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As a CEO, your time is very valuable to waste on creating custom emails to every lead, following up on emails for responses and scheduling and rescheduling meetings on your calendar.
If completing recurring manual tasks throughout your day consumes most of your time, then we've got you!
Follow our tips to help you reduce manual work! This will boost your efficiency and give you the time needed to grow your biz rather than being caught in the overwhelm and feeling like you are drowning.
1. Build a template library
Having foundational work already completed and ready to go allows you to ditch the manual workload of creating new forms and checklists. Regular tasks such as new client onboarding, Zoom meeting agenda, or content calendar development and process could be easily launched with a template. No matter which project management tool you are using.
2. Delegate, delegate, delegate
You don’t have to own a large business to pass things off to someone else. Even if you are a one-wo(man) show, you have the option to bring on support. When you have a team member or two, decide who will be best to take on the tasks that weigh you down throughout the day. Project management tools, like Asana or ClickUp, will help you keep everything organized and reduce manual work, which would then give you back some time to focus on revenue-generating activities.
3. Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
You know the moment when a new client requests a particular task and you have to recall from memory or dig through your archived digital files to remind yourself how you completed it the first time? Creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) helps alleviate the headache. When everyone on your team works from the same procedural document, the work quality improves and you’re not left losing half a day of productivity with conversations that begin with, "How did we do this the last time?" or "What is the next step here?". Too much precious time wasted!!
4. Timeblock your day
Some people love this, others disagree that it would benefit them, but the fact is, there are manual tasks that must be performed either way. Instead of interrupting your day's workflow in an effort to get those things done, timeblock your schedule and knock out several days or weeks worth of work. You won’t have to disrupt your day or train of thought with the manual task, and you’ll allow yourself a dedicated block of time to commit to the work without constantly feeling that you could be doing something more productive.
Rachel Everington, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Rachel Everington is the CEO of an executive assistance and operations agency that supports business owners by removing the day to day overwhelm so that they can get their time back in order to focus on revenue generating activities. A consultant to businesses to support them on their business infrastructure (team management, systems building, standard operating procedures, strategically map their visions, customer journey workflow strategy and client experience). She is also a coach to other done-for-you service providers to create a profitable and sustainable business. After waiting for years to finally get her miracle baby, she had left the corporate world in order to create a business that provided time and financial freedom. She is dedicated to helping others build a business they love in order to create impact in our communities and much more by providing white glove support. She believes that people buy people and not businesses, and that we can all succeed if people were to treat others as humans with love, respect and compassion.
