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Strategic Productivity Practices to Power Your Business in the New Year

Posted by Susan Ford | Jan 16, 2025 | 0 Comments

The end of the year is approaching, and as a business owner, you're likely reflecting on the past twelve months while looking ahead to the future. While many focus on revenue goals and growth targets, one fundamental aspect can make or break your success in the coming year: productivity. By implementing the right productivity practices, you can set yourself and your business up for unprecedented efficiency and success in the new year.

Create Systems That Scale

One of the biggest productivity killers in any business is reinventing the wheel for recurring tasks. Think about how often you or your team members perform the same activities. Each time you tackle a familiar task without a documented system, you start from scratch, wasting valuable time and mental energy.

Start by identifying your core business processes—customer onboarding, invoice processing, and social media management. Document each process step-by-step, noting who's responsible for what and any needed tools or resources. Consider recording video tutorials for complex procedures or creating detailed checklists for routine tasks.

Remember that good systems do more than just document current practices. They should be designed to scale with your business. As you create each system, ask yourself: Will this work when we're handling twice the current volume? Five times? Ten times? Build flexibility into your systems now to avoid significant overhauls later.

Embrace Strategic Automation

While systems provide the foundation for productivity, automation takes it to the next level. The key is to be strategic about what you automate. Not every process needs or benefits from automation; poorly implemented automation can create more problems than it solves.

Start with repetitive, time-consuming tasks that don't require human judgment. Email responses, appointment scheduling, invoice generation, and social media posting are prime candidates for automation. Look for areas where manual data entry creates bottlenecks or human error could be costly.

Be sure to thoroughly test any automation before fully implementing it. Start small, with a single process or department, and gradually expand based on results. Remember that automation should serve your business goals, not dictate them. The best automation solutions allow your team to focus on high-value activities requiring human creativity, judgment, and relationship-building.

Implement Time-Blocking and Focus Management

Time is a business owner's most precious resource, yet it's often the most poorly managed. Random interruptions, constant email checking, and reactive decision-making can fragment your day and destroy productivity. The solution? Strategic time blocking and focus management.

Start by auditing how you currently spend your time. Track your activities for at least a week (ideally two), noting what you're doing and any patterns in your energy levels and focus. Use this information to create designated blocks of time for different types of work. For instance, schedule deep work during your peak energy hours, batch similar tasks together, and set specific times for email and communication.

Consider implementing "power hours," focused work periods during which you and your team minimize distractions and concentrate on high-priority tasks. This might mean turning off notifications, closing emails, and even putting phones in airplane mode. The key is creating an environment that supports sustained focus and productivity.

Establish Clear Communication Protocols

Poor communication can derail even the best productivity systems. When information doesn't flow efficiently, decisions get delayed, mistakes multiply, and productivity suffers. As you prepare for the new year, establish clear communication protocols that support rather than hinder productivity.

Define which communication channels should be used for what purposes. For example, email might be used for external communication and documented decisions. In contrast, a chat platform might be used for quick internal questions. Based on the urgency and importance of each type of communication, set expectations for response times.

Create guidelines for meetings to ensure they remain productive. This includes having clear agendas, time limits, and action items. Consider implementing "no-meeting" days or blocks for uninterrupted focus time. Remember, every minute spent in an unnecessary meeting is a minute lost to productive work.

Your Next Step to Make 2025 the Best Year Ever for Your Business

As your trusted LIFTed Business Advisor™, I understand that implementing new systems requires careful planning and execution. That's why I offer a comprehensive LIFT Business Breakthrough Session. In it, we'll analyze your current systems and identify opportunities for improvement. We'll develop a customized plan to help your business operate at peak performance in the coming year.

Contact us today!

This article is a service of Res Nova Law, a Personal Family Lawyer® Firm. We don't just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning™ Session, during which you will get more financially organized than you've ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning™ Session.

The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.

About the Author

Susan Ford

Susan L. Ford is the founder of Res Nova Law, with over 25 years of experience working with businesses of all sizes. A former shareholder at one of Portland's largest law firms, Susan started Res Nova Law to better serve her clients. Res Nova Law offers its clients Susan's big firm know-how, while giving them the personalized attention they deserve.

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