Time is that one commodity that every entrepreneur needs more of. Thoughts, ideas, strategies all require time to act on and yet time is always ticking and invariably runs out. Some numbers here can give a perspective on time in our lives. In a 5-day work week, there are just 168 hours. In an 8-hour workday, there are merely 480 minutes.

With the clock always ticking, living a meaningful life and making a mark at work can be a challenge. Entrepreneurs & SMEs from GlobalLinker share how they manage time and maximise their productivity.

Shital Mehra - Founder, International School of Corporate Etiquette and Protocol

Kickstarting the morning

I wake up at 6:30am, read the newspapers over a cup of ginger tea, go for a brisk 45-minute walk, eat a hearty breakfast & start working at 9:30am

Time management & scheduling

For me time management depends on my schedule. Days I am conducting a workshop in Mumbai, I leave early (7:30 - 8am). For outstation workshops, I prefer to travel the previous evening as traffic in Indian metros coupled with airport congestion can waste a lot of time. On days I am in my office, I plan coaching sessions, write articles and take care of administrative requirements.

Planning for the week

I plan my workshops 6-8 weeks in advance and CXO coaching is planned at least 2 weeks ahead. In short, my work days are well planned and there are few last-minute changes.

Productivity tips

Somewhere along this journey, I realised that work-life balance is very important for productivity. Also, physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing is critical for productivity. On the work front, by sending out an email of ‘things to do’ to my team members, I ensure that the smallest details of workshop planning are taken care of, leading to no last-minute stress/ chaos.

Shriyans Bhandari - CEO & Co-Founder, Greensole

Kickstarting the morning

I run 5-10 kilometres every day at 7am and eat a heavy breakfast thereafter.

Time management & scheduling

I always tackle the toughest task first. I plan my meetings with a third party or any visitors after lunch after the energy level reduces.

Planning for the week

I have a to-do list for the month which keeps me on track.

Productivity tips

While difficult initially, do not multitask. Start with the toughest task and do not stop till it’s done. Keep hours to answer phone and email.

Gopal Subramanian - Consultant Partner, Oscar Murphy Life Strategists

Kickstarting the morning

I usually get up around 6:00am and check my mails to see if anything urgent requires my attention. I help my wife with cooking and leave for work. I start work at 9:30am. After sending some mails, I look into operational issues. I use my travel time to think of new ideas and strategies.

Time management & scheduling

If I am in office then generally, pre-lunch (before 1:00) I look into the operational issues, deliverables to be made and support the team. Post lunch I look into marketing and sales activities, writing articles, reading books and conducting meetings.

Planning for the week

I think of what I need to achieve for the week and measure from the deliverables perspective. At the end of the week I see how much time went into operations, sales, marketing and other areas. Any customer deliverables take precedence.

Productivity tips

I tell my team to have achievement charts in the work area. At the end of the day write down anything that is considered an achievement. If at the end of the week the chart is empty, then reflect on what was the effort spent on and why there are no achievements. If the chart is full of achievements, then see how did it translate to business impact and accordingly prune the list.

Planning ahead on a weekly basis and having clarity on what is required to be delivered each week will help. At the end of the week there should be a satisfaction of how the week went. Do plan for some exercise. Physical fitness is very important to achieve anything.

Manoj Kabre - VP Marketing, Indo-MIM

Kickstarting the morning

I usually come fresh to commence my work, with a clear 10-minute vision for the day routine. I utilise this time to talk to myself and make an indicative goal-sheet that will define my work routine that day. I have seen that this habit enables me to maximise my productivity during the day, and prevents crises.

Time management & scheduling

I have always advocated and practised compartmentalisation of my time schedule (very similar to how we used to have our subject classes one after the other in school) to ear-mark specific schedules for work. The most important routine that I follow is not to attend to emails all the time. I dedicate a specific hour of the day for all phone calls, and try to schedule conference calls in specific time slots of the day. The use of the calendar to schedule every transaction, meeting or conference call has helped me to be aware of the schedule at the start of the day.

Planning for the week

For the past 5 years I have maintained an annual day wise calendar monitoring system by pasting a large-size calendar in front of my desk. I write all the upcoming visits and meetings on this calendar so that my schedule is clearly ear-marked.

Productivity tips

One’s productivity is inversely proportional to the number of crisis situations in one’s daily routine. Repetitive tasks need to be avoided, and technology, charts and matrix should be used to throw-up the behaviour of the process, plant and statistics. Minimal use of brain should be employed to remember tasks, dates and schedules, since sufficient utility tools are now available to do the same digitally. Learning to say ‘No’, when required, is a very important habit that needs to be practised. The moment one feels that (s)he is being dragged into a situation which seems unimportant, one should be courageous enough to consciously keep oneself away. Detachment is yet another big trait that needs to be practised to boost productivity. Empowering colleagues and subordinates and avoiding micro-management are two other pillars of success in maximising productivity.

Image source: Pexels 

Disclaimer: This article is based solely on the inputs shared by the featured member. GlobalLinker does not necessarily endorse the views, opinions & facts stated by the members.