Eight Reasons why Small Business planning is important
Kick off every week with a list of what you’re planning to achieve. Whether it’s a list that’s carried over from previous weeks, or actions that resulted from a team or client meeting, writing a list is the easiest way to clarify what needs to be done. Keep it in an easy-to-see location like on your desk, on a whiteboard in the office (if it’s for the whole team), or on your phone so it’s always handy and can be updated quickly.
2. Prioritisation
Avoid feeling overwhelmed and procrastination by listing out every task that needs to be progressed or completed that week and sort them out based on priority. One way to do this is to simply number tasks as 1, 2, 3, etc, or to highlight them with certain colours. This way you can work on the important and urgent items before you get distracted by lower priority tasks. It also helps when people make ad hoc requests for assistance throughout the week. If you still haven’t cracked the high priority tasks, you can give them a clear idea of when you’ll be available to respond to their request.
3. Memory Aid
Do you ever get that niggling feeling that you’ve forgotten something? Unless you have a flawless memory, it’s smart to have a system in place to remind you about meetings, appointments, tasks that need finishing and everyday admin. The beauty of using the right planning tools is that you can get those things out of your head and onto paper (or into an app) so that you can free up some mental bandwidth. The simple act of writing things down is proven to help you remember them – too easy!
4. Work-life Balance
Sometimes work and home life encroach on each other. After all, work and life can’t really be neatly siloed. By using a weekly planning tool that is personal to you, you can make sure that you don’t forget important things like dentist appointments and Book Week costumes in the midst of all the professional tasks you work on during the week.
5. Time Saving
Using the right planning tool can save you significant amounts of time because you avoid dithering over what to do next or trying to remember things. With a prioritised, regularly updated list of tasks, you can get stuck into what needs to be done. And if you fly through the list and finish early? Give yourself a pat on the back for your efficiency.
6. Reflection
The beauty of keeping track of what you’ve done through the week is that it gives you the ability to accurately reflect on your progress. Did you complete a big project? Are you happy with what you achieved? Did you build your network or learn anything new? Weekly reflection helps you celebrate the wins, identify areas for improvement and plan what needs to happen in subsequent weeks to build on the progress that has been made.
7. Ask for Help
Maybe you have identified that planning is not your strong point, or you have realised that there are systems and processes in your business that are holding you back from reaching your full potential? This is where reaching out for support from a coach, mentor, advisor or consultant can really benefit you. If this is you, get in touch today to book a free 15 minute planning consultation- debbie@debbieroberts.com.au.
8. Tune In To Your Purpose
Are your plans for the week aligned with your purpose? Using a weekly planning tool is a really easy way to see whether the actions you have taken during the week line up with your values, ethics and overarching mission statement for the business.
Debbie Roberts from Debbie Roberts Consulting says, “Staying organised and motivated isn’t a special skill for a lucky few. From my experience working with business owners and staff, weekly planning is the most important thing you can do. I have always used weekly planning tools, but I could never find one that completely suited my needs, so I decided to design my own.”
“Many of my clients say they have trouble keeping track of things, prioritising and managing their time. This one simple tool focuses on daily goals & action steps, and a weekly affirmation (I’ve included a set of affirmations to choose from, if you can’t think of one), and a spot for reflection and gratitude, all aimed at improving your productivity and time management and increasing your work-life balance.
The Debbie Roberts Consulting Weekly Desk Planner was launched in October 2021. For more information or to order your copy
