Steer Your Business Dec 2020 - Magazine - Page 7
5. Ineffective delegation (and abdication).
Ensure that you give clear instructions when delegating
tasks and empower others to do more for you.
Responsibility still falls on you though, and without a clear
process, you are setting someone up to fail which will
ultimately reflect badly on you.
6. Ineffective systems.
Mistakes are often attributable to ineffective systems.
Involve your team and make processes as efficient as
possible. Eliminate systems that don’t add value and
implement new systems that aid efficiency.
7. Inability to say ‘no’.
We are defined not just by what we say yes to, but also
what we say no to. Planning helps us to say no to things
that don’t align with our purpose and goals. “No” is a
complete sentence.
8. Ineffective meetings.
Ensure that every meeting has a purpose, an agenda and
clear objectives. Don’t stray from the agenda; refer back
to the purpose if you’re going off track. Record clear
outcomes and next steps in Meeting Minutes.
9. Ineffective email use.
Think twice before playing email tennis. Ask yourself if a
phone call would be more efficient so that you don’t find
yourself constantly checking for a reply.
10. Poor planning.
Effective planning has three key components: a onepage plan (with goals, KPI’s and required actions),
regular reporting to ensure continuous improvement, and
accountability.
2. A messy desk.
Desk clutter results in mind clutter. Tidy your workspace
each day before you leave so you don’t arrive to a mess.
Also, consider how paperless you are; paper becomes
clutter. Everyone says that my desk looks like no one
works there, but I am an extremely tidy person.
3. Procrastination and shifting priorities.
Spend a few minutes planning tomorrow’s tasks before
you leave for the day, or planning today’s tasks as soon
as you arrive. Avoid unnecessary pick up and put down.
Multitasking is a productivity myth.
4. Interruptions (from people and technology).
Set clear parameters to reduce distractions, e.g. turn off
your email and phone notifications, only check emails
between tasks, etc. If it’s urgent, they’ll call or tap your
shoulder.
What are your biggest time wasters? Identify your top
three and take ownership and responsibility to minimise
them today!
“Success isn’t overnight. It’s when every day you get a
little better than the day before. It
all adds up.” - Dwayne ‘The Rock’
Johnson.
At this point I would say good
luck; now sometimes this does
play a part, but instead I will say
‘good planning’.
i
Andy
Page
Need a bit of help? Andy Page can be
contacted at a.page@mphaccountants.co.uk
MPH Accountants & Business Advisers
www.mphaccountants.co.uk
