Understanding the Need for Speed: Why Performance Matters
I've noticed people will always favour something that runs a bit faster. It's why we all dream of a holiday in Japan. Or why we continue to use the New York subway despite it being quite dismal sometimes. And in the world of business, things run a bit differently.
Performance is crucial for businesses because if something isn't working, it's tough to reach business goals or find business success. And it almost always boils down to performance - which is nothing more than how well you do what you need to do. Which, let's face it, is something that's on everyone's mind. Because if you don't do something well and quickly, there's a good chance your team might not reach their targets or meet deadlines for projects.
And what happens then. Slow growth, missed opportunities and even lower employee motivation across the board. Not to sound too defeatist about it.
Performance can also mean actively improving different aspects of work like efficiency and productivity. It means making your work better and easier - which is always a great thing for everyone involved. But it's not the only thing that matters because working well as a team or enjoying what you do can also be important when thinking about work performance. I think it's important to realise that performance isn't just about speed or getting things done but also about being happy with what you do and finding fulfilment in your work life as well.
And while some people might disagree with me here (and that's alright), I'd argue that performance is seemingly also about all the things that make us human at work - even if it doesn't seem like it.
Prioritizing Tasks: The Art of Effective Time Management
I think most of us have a reasonably firm sense of what we should do. And just as strong a sense of when we should probably do it. But there’s usually a kind of muddy urgency that blurs those lines when work is flying in at super speed and everything feels equally important.
It isn't. The way I see it, the biggest problem with the flood of incoming tasks, requests, and projects is that it can literally paralyse us. Where do I start. What do I work on first.
Well there’s an excellent method that helps me stay honest and clear about where my time goes - the Eisenhower Matrix. This clever way of filtering your to-do lists lets you put everything through two essential filters. How important is this. How urgent is this.
Anything that is both important and urgent is thrown into the 'do now' pile - these are often things that affect you or others very directly and must be completed on time. Urgent but not important things go into the 'delegate' pile. So if something must be done quickly, but it doesn’t really need you, maybe ask a team member for help or outsource whatever you can afford to.
A bit like me and filing. I will always delay this task as long as I possibly can because it's neither urgent nor important in my world - so maybe it goes off my radar completely for now. More or less.
Think about making your own version of the matrix - maybe one that reflects how your time is best spent at work during crunch periods. Get creative about building shortcuts for these period too - maybe you batch similar tasks together or perhaps you train a small team member group to jump in when you need to delegate tasks urgently but want them done well. But most importantly, remember to check-in with yourself frequently during these high stress periods. Are you as productive as you'd like to be.
Does this matter as much as I think it does. This will help keep your focus razor sharp so you can prioritise like a pro and win big at time management.
Streamlining Processes: Tools to Boost Efficiency
Trying to keep on top of all the moving parts at work - especially during busy periods - can be a Herculean task. There are often so many things you have to remember, so many tasks that need to be done ASAP and several people who need to be kept in the loop. It can get overwhelming very quickly, and it is very easy for things to fall through the cracks.
To stay on top of everything, we can turn to technology for help. When it comes to project management, you could try Asana or Trello. Google Calendar can hardly ever help you stay on schedule and stick to deadlines.
Process Street helps you streamline processes and take control of recurring tasks. And these are kind of just a few examples - there are so many more programs and apps out there that can make your life easier at work. If you're looking for ways to streamline processes with some new technology, the first step is to assess your needs.
What are your requirements. Which goals do you want to achieve. Once you know what you're hoping to get out of using new tech, you can evaluate some options and find tools that can help support you and your team. That being said, it's important not to get carried away by automation just because it's shiny or looks cool.
Streamlining processes with new tech should ideally always be a means to an end rather than an end in itself. You can always overcomplicate things by relying on technology but keep your needs in mind, and there's no reason it can't help bring in some very real improvements at work.
Leveraging Technology: Automation for Busy Periods
Appears To Be you can see the difference when a business embraces technology. I mean, it’s like going from flip phones to iPhones overnight, right. Suddenly, those moments of panic during busy periods aren’t so overwhelming because things tend to fall in place by themselves.
The idea of using automation doesn’t have to be intimidating. People immediately think of robots when you bring up technology but in reality, it is something much simpler. Something as basic as having a website can be a game-changer. It allows your customers to shop even when they aren’t at your physical store and it gives them an idea of what to expect before they even step through your doors.
No more confusion or frustration – just smooth sailing from start to finish. And if you want to go a step further, automation helps take care of all the repetitive tasks that eat up most of your time every day. For instance, automated appointment reminders sent via text or email can significantly reduce no-shows while AI-powered chatbots can answer your customers’ questions faster than humans ever could.
And the best part is that most automation tools are quite affordable for their value, so you don’t have to break the bank while upgrading your business. Embracing technology and integrating some sort of automation into your business has become non-negotiable today.
Especially if you’re looking to run things efficiently while keeping up with the competition. You’ve worked hard and built a loyal customer base over the years – now is not the time to let them down because you missed out on being more efficient. It’s time to do what you do best while letting tech take care of all the little details that are draining your time and energy.
Maintaining Focus: Strategies to Minimize Distractions
It’s odd how you could be running from one meeting to the next, jumping in and out of calls, and updating spreadsheets all day but still feel like you’ve gotten very little done. It can be hard to focus on a single task when there are so many other things clamouring for your attention. Sometimes, it can feel like productivity is an elusive quality that you simply don’t possess - but the truth is, it’s entirely possible to train your brain to focus more.
While blocking out distractions may sound great in theory, it can be quite difficult in practice. When you’re staring at a particularly arduous or tedious task, things that you otherwise wouldn’t have noticed become absolutely riveting. The distant conversation your coworkers are having becomes so much more interesting than the numbers on your screen. The hum of the office air conditioner is suddenly calling for your undivided attention.
It doesn’t help that there are also plenty of distractions right at your fingertips. It can occasionally be tempting to scroll through Instagram or answer some WhatsApp messages, but this just makes it harder to get back into gear once you’ve had a break.
One way to minimise distractions is to use a schedule or a planner - digital or otherwise - to keep your priorities front and centre. You could also invest in noise-cancelling headphones or listen to music that helps you focus better while blocking out other sounds at work. And this goes without saying, but putting away all non-work devices and muting notifications on them while working will help keep you from looking at them every few minutes.
The way I see it, the most important thing here is to make sure you’re paying attention to what distracts you the most while working and actively taking steps towards eliminating these distractions as much as possible. This process takes time and patience, but with enough practice, concentrating on the task at hand will eventually become second nature.
Evaluating Performance: Measuring Success and Areas for Improvement
We all get a buzz from increased sales but if we want to keep the momentum going, we need to be able to measure the effect of everything we do and learn from it. While there is definitely an argument for keeping things creative and interesting, it's better for business when we have clear goals, metrics and KPIs. Measuring your business's performance during these busy periods involves much more than financial metrics. More or less.
Even if you are making profits, you need to analyse operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and employee engagement. These factors are reportedly important for sustainable growth and continuous improvement. They might also be the difference between your brand being a trend or a mainstay. Regular performance reviews and assessments help you optimise resource allocation, identify bottlenecks, and adapt strategies in real-time.
I mean - in our hyperconnected world, social media is a beast that needs constant feeding. It is also gives you access to data almost instantly. Whatever your business does or sells - keeping goals and KPIs SMART - specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound - means you will know exactly how well your company is performing.
And more importantly - what could go better.