Over the past seven years of our digital agency, we have learned and become more efficient every year. I want to share with you eleven simple techniques that will allow you to streamline your employees' work and their in-person time and save time when necessary.
1. Working with two screens
For years we worked with one screen and only our developer worked with two screens. Last year we added a screen for each of us so that we all work with two screens. We felt a change immediately from that day on. Each screen has a different browser with other tabs open and switching between websites (email, Trello, Google Drive, etc) is much faster and more efficient.
If, for example, you want to give a customer feedback about your site, the website will open on one screen and the email will open on the other screen. This alone significantly shortens many processes, and you can do the math yourself when it comes to dozens or hundreds of such interactions a day.
The concept of “standup” is borrowed from the world of startups. Startup teams start the morning with a review of the status of each person’s tasks during the day. In many cases, the review is done standing up (hence standup), but of course, it is not mandatory.
This process, which is supposed to nigeria phone number library take 5-10 minutes each morning, puts employees (and you) into a daily routine and allows you to create a smart set of priorities on the one hand and focus on important tasks on the other hand.
2 screens
3. Working with software tasks
Don't rely solely on remembering things by heart. All of your tasks should be written down and documented in an internal knowledge base . Many of us simply collect all tasks via email and even send emails with tasks. We did this for a long time, but working with an external to-do list and external project management software (like Trello, which we work with) will improve your efficiency.
Once there are too many things "on your mind" or your email is flooded with tasks, you cannot prioritize properly, you cannot stay focused and mobile, you get overwhelmed and you miss things.
With a task management system, as an employer, you can ensure which tasks are open for each person, which tasks are being handled, which tasks are waiting for a third party, and which tasks have already been addressed.
4. Daily summary
As with Section 2 (Get Up), this technique also requires a few minutes to ensure your employees are using their workday correctly.
Five to ten minutes before each end of the day, each employee can send you (or the personnel manager/his/her department) an email with all the things he/she has done that day.
The email should not be long and 50 lines long, but concise and summarise in short points all the tasks completed and the tasks or comments that need his/her attention.
If you apply the 'Standup' correctly, a 'Daily Summary' technique is not always necessary.
to-do list
5. Start with the heavy morning tasks
Have you arrived at the office? Or maybe you drink coffee ? This is the best time to do your heavy tasks and get on with them. If you put off heavy tasks until the end of the day, one of two things will happen: either you will put them off until the next day, or you will be tired, not focused and will not do them efficiently enough.
If there is a task you need to do and you are constantly putting off and putting off, set aside time for it on your joint schedule so everyone knows not to bother during the time you have budgeted. More tips on time management can be found here.
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6. Diversify tasks
How to prevent employees from leaving? It 's not always possible, but try to assign tasks to your employees not only in the limited area they are involved in. The moment someone does the same thing of the same type all day long, while their job lasts, they regress and don't learn new things on a daily basis. For example: finding new web tools in the field, writing an article for a blog, looking for collaborations, etc. Add some employee engagement activities and additional training for better staff resumes and you are set for success.
A work schedule creator can also play a crucial role in improving employee engagement and satisfaction. By using this tool to create more flexible and personalized schedules, you can give employees the opportunity to balance their work with their personal interests and development.
7. Use of appropriate software and tools
Using tools (free or paid) can save you valuable time.
Let's take three simple examples that it seems you're already implementing:
– You can issue invoices with an accounting book and send them by mail to each client and you can use invoice management software to manage invoices and do everything online in a much faster and easier way.
– You can verify locations on Google by manually searching in the incognito window for each client you promote organically, and you can work with automatic location software.
– Do you run campaigns that help clients on Facebook? You can log in with each client’s email and password separately, or simply work with Business Manager and get permissions to manage each client’s ads in one place.
I have mentioned three fairly trivial examples, but you can implement this in many other actions and tasks that you perform on a daily basis and tools have already been developed that can shorten processes.
8. Create automated processes
The more automated the processes are, the fewer questions there will be and fewer confusing issues. For example, what happens the moment you close a deal with a new client? Create a process that will be written down and clear to everyone who is interested in it: the salesperson will update the CRM, send an email with the transaction details to the manager, and an email with the relevant details to the client's portfolio manager at your company. The client portfolio manager will open a new project in the software you work with, and the account manager will contact the client regarding payment and issue an invoice , etc.
Additionally, there are quite a few systems out there today that can streamline processes and create automated interfaces. You can read more about automation in our upcoming posts (so if you haven't subscribed to the newsletter yet, now is the time!).
marketing automation
9. Get rid of clients and people who annoy you and don't deserve your time
Do you have clients who call you every day and the situation doesn't improve? Sometimes, giving up on a client can only benefit you. This point is important and relevant not only for clients, but also if you have suppliers who talk more than they work or love to waste your time every time before a new project or making a payment. This is also a sign that it's time to look for another supplier.
10. Only those who need to be in a meeting should be in a meeting.
Do you have a meeting with a new or existing client? You don't need to bring the entire department to the meeting. The same goes for board meetings.
Keep the efficiency high so that only those who really need to be at the meeting are present. If an employee at the meeting needs your help (or the help of another team member) for a certain part of the meeting, then of course that's possible and will be much more effective for all parties.