As an entrepreneur, your time is your most valuable commodity, that’s why we’re massive on hitting home you need to be selling your expertise and not your time! To succeed and scale you’ll need to be able to maximise your productivity to achieve your goals and drive your business forward. Fortunately, there are many productivity tools on the market that can help to streamline your workflow and help your business work more efficiently. We’re going to explore the top productivity tools for entrepreneurs and how to use them.
The 5 Top Productivity Tools for Entrepreneurs and How to Use Them
Project Management Tools
Using project management tools such as Trello, Asana, and Monday.com can help you and your team to organise and manage your projects more effectively. These tools allow you to create task lists, assign tasks to team members, and track the progress of each stage of your project in real time. This can help you to stay on top of your projects and ensure that everything within a project is completed on time.
Time Management Tools
Time management tools such as RescueTime, Toggl, and Focus for example can help you to optimise your time more efficiently and stay focused on your work. These tools allow you to track how you spend your time, set goals, and prioritise tasks. This can help you eliminate distractions if you’re easily distracted and increase your productivity.
Communication Tools
If you’ve got a team then communication tools like Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams are an essential. They help you to collaborate with team members and clients more effectively, especially if you are remotely. These tools will allow you to communicate in real time, share files, and hold virtual meetings. This can help you stay connected and work more efficiently.
Email Management Tools
Instead of getting bogged down with a full inbox, email management tools like Boomerang, SaneBox, and Inbox Zero can help you manage your email more effectively. These tools allow you to schedule emails, set reminders, and prioritise your messages. Staying on top of your inbox and avoid getting overwhelmed by email will help you to manage clients and provide a higher level of customer service.
Social Media Management Tools
Social media management tools are essential for tracking and reporting, using a tool such as Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social for example can help you manage your social media accounts more efficiently. Depending on your requirements and budget these tools allow you to schedule posts, monitor engagement, and analyse performance. This can help you stay on top of your social media presence and drive engagement with your audience.
How to Use Productivity Tools
Choosing the Right Tools
There are many productivity tools available and more are being launched on a daily basis, so we understand how it can be overwhelming to choose the right ones. Start by identifying the areas where you need the most help, such as project management, time management, or communication. Then, research the available tools in that category and choose the ones that best fit your needs and budget. Also think about the systems you already have in place and see what integrates with your system for a cyclical approach.
Set Goals
Once you have chosen your productivity tools, you need to then set goals for how you’ll use them. For example, if you’re using a project management tool, set goals for how many tasks you’ll complete each week or how quickly you’ll respond to team members’ messages. Setting goals will help you stay focused and motivated (in all aspects of your business).
Learn to Utilise the Tools
Take some time for you and your team to learn how to use your productivity tools effectively. Most tools offer in depth tutorials or training materials to help you get started. This will help you maximise all of the benefits of the tools and help to avoid frustration.
Integrate the Tools into Your Workflow
To get the most out of your productivity tools, integrate them into your workflow. Make them a part of your daily routine and use them consistently. This will help you stay organised and focused.
Evaluate and Adjust
Regularly evaluate how well your productivity tools are working for you and make adjustments as needed. If a tool isn’t helping you achieve your goals, consider researching your requirements again and trying a different one. By regularly evaluating and adjusting your tools, you can stay on top of your productivity and achieve your business goals.
Conclusion
Productivity tools can be a complete game changer for entrepreneurs just like you looking to streamline their workflow and work more efficiently. By choosing the right tools, setting goals, learning how to use them effectively, integrating them into your workflow, and evaluating and adjusting as needed, you can substantially maximise your productivity and achieve your business goals.
It’s also important to note that productivity tools are not a one size fits all solution. While they can certainly help increase efficiency and organisation, they should be used in conjunction with good time management practices and a clear understanding of your priorities and goals.
Remember, the goal is not to be busy all the time, but to be productive and achieve your desired outcomes.
If you’re looking for a cyclical, streamlined approach to growing and scaling your business you can work with us in one of two ways. Through STRATIFY360, where each month you can access a module as part of a systemised approach plus receive TWO live group coaching sessions from our founders each month.
Alternatively if you’re currently turning over 6 figures or more we can work with you on a bespoke basis. Click here to find out how.
