When you run a small business, your time is valuable, and you can’t afford to let mundane tasks sidetrack you. Here are five activities small business owners should engage in every day.
[Read more: 10 Things to Do in Small Business Month to Grow Your Company]
Check your finances
You may be tempted to put off checking your books and tracking your expenses, but this is a mistake. Checking in on your finances daily helps you become aware of how much money your business brings in. It also enables you to identify if you’re overspending in certain areas.
You’ll also be better prepared come tax season. By keeping a careful record, you’ll be able to take advantage of all your deductions and you won’t worry that you’re leaving money on the table.
Most importantly, staying on top of your finances is the best way to determine your business’s profitability. Running the numbers is the only way to ensure your business brings in more money than it spends.
Touch base with your team
Touching base with your team daily is the best way to keep employee morale high. Frequent check-ins will help you ensure that projects stay on track and quickly identify and deal with potential problems.
But how do you check in with your team and ensure they don’t feel micromanaged? It turns out that ignoring them may be the bigger problem. Research from Gallup found that high-performance managers are actively involved in their employees’ work lives.
They never ignore their employees and are actively involved in helping them plan and prioritize projects. Gallup found that employees with engaged managers are 17 times more likely to be engaged in their work.
[Read more: How to Create Loyal Employees (and Why It Matters)]
Checking in on your finances daily helps you become aware of how much money your business brings in.
Make time for marketing
Many people get overwhelmed when they hear the word “marketing.” They think this means they need to make TikTok videos or run Facebook ads. An easier way to think about marketing is that you should look for new opportunities to get the word out about your business every day.
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily activities of running a business, like checking emails, sending invoices, and attending meetings. But if you want your business to grow, you need to prioritize marketing activities.
That could include the following tasks:
- Engaging with your social media followers.
- Checking in on the company’s advertising copy.
- Getting your company featured in a high-profile publication.
- Refining your sales process.
- Conducting a sales call.
[Read more: Sales and Marketing Collaboration Is the Secret to Strong Brand Building]
Take time to think about the big picture
You want to stay focused on the work that’s right in front of you, but it’s also essential to be looking ahead. Don’t get so lost in the day-to-day minutiae that you forget about what you’re trying to build.
Give yourself time to think about and evaluate your business. Are there any gaps in the market that your company could fill? Are there any products or services that aren’t working for your business and that you need to let go of?
Giving yourself time to focus on your vision will ensure that you’re building a forward-thinking company that doesn’t get left behind.
Take time to unwind
Don’t worry, this isn’t another article about work-life balance. Running a small business is challenging, and it’s normal if the business consumes a lot of your time. But you also don’t want to run yourself ragged.
Look for little opportunities throughout the day when you can take a break and recharge. When you’re starting to feel burnt out, a quick walk around the block can help bring your focus back.
And try to find time in the evenings or on the weekends to decompress. Find a way to build leisure time into your daily activities, so you can minimize stress and show up more effectively.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
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