You must block out time to think about and work on improving your business.
You need new systems and to improve the ones you’ve got, but tell yourself you don’t have the time to work on them.
Maybe you need to change how you allocate your time.
The trick is to block time out in advance to work on improvement so you commit to at least devoting some time to this all important task.
Spare time does not appear from thin air when you own and run your own business! Improvement won’t happen without setting aside time to dedicate to it.
Build the following into your schedule to ensure you spend time on the strategic stuff.
Daily - Monitor
- 15 mins - set aside time to openly discuss issues - morning kick off meeting or over lunch
Weekly - Monitor and Act
- 1-3 hrs weekly planning and review meeting - make an agenda item for suggestions and monitoring progress
- Set aside some 'think’ time by yourself over a coffee and jot down what comes to mind when reflecting on how things are going [very powerful technique and works better on a daily basis].
Monthly - Plan and Act on Larger Tactics
- 3 hrs - monthly targets are essential and big actions are required of you are not meeting your targets
Quarterly - Bigger Changes
- Up to 1 or 2 days - time to plan larger projects like implementing new IT systems or processes, hiring for new roles or sourcing new products
Time goes by rapidly when you are busy working in your business. Weeks and months can pass without taking even some simple actions to improve your performance.
Even if you’re not sure exactly what you will do, make time to reflect on and act to improve how you work.
Better performance will not happen by accident.