“Some owners mistakenly believe that working long hours is the key to success, when they should be working smarter not longer.” – Robert Craven, business development consultant.

Many business owners find it difficult to maintain the work/life balance which can result in stress and business failure. Business coaching will help. A main aim for many of my clients is to work less hours, and I give them the support they need to be more in control of their business, resulting in meeting demands more efficiently in less time. This means my clients have more of a life outside of work and are happier.

Here are some techniques listed below to help you cut down your hours:

  • Keep a journal for a week – many business owners don’t know where all their time is used up so try to keep track of where your time is spent and on what tasks, just for a week. Make sure you’re being honest and precise. You may not realise how much time you’re spending on some things such as emails – a big thing that can be a major distraction for business owners.
  • Prioritise and plan – once you have analysed your journal and tasks from the week, you can see what changes are required and what needs less time put into. Being aware of what needs to be done and in what order as well as how much time each task takes is important.
  • Delegate to your staff – remember you’re paying staff to take some of the work load from you. If your staff already have the right knowledge and ability, delegating to them frees up more of your time. If necessary, give your staff the appropriate training; it may take some time and effort in the beginning but in the long run it’s well worth it.
  • Say no – self-discipline is important for successful time management. Do you find that some days are taken up by long meetings? Set yourself times whether it be an hour each day or half a day a week to be able to go through your to-dos. Let others know when you don’t want to be interrupted unless it’s vital.

I am more than happy to help you maintain the work life balance through these techniques and more. Contact me.