Getting Off the Roof, Into the Office
By Adam Spooner
Growing your business takes time. As a roofing contractor who is just starting out you feel you don’t have enough time in the day to get the tasks done you need to so you can get off the roof and into the office. Following these few steps will help you achieve your goals for your business and for yourself as a small business owner.
Work on your business, not in your business
This means taking a step back from the day-to-day operations and focusing on the strategic aspects of your business, such as developing new products or services, expanding your market reach, and building your team. If you are not doing these things, who is? To be blunt, no one is going to care about your business more than you. This must be your responsibility.
Delegate tasks to others
Once you have a clear vision for your business, you need to start delegating tasks to others so you can free up your time to focus on the most important things. This may be difficult at first, but it is essential for the growth of your business. The best teams have involvement from everyone with each person operating close to capacity and helping each other. This starts with giving them the opportunity to contribute through delegation and cross training.
Invest in systems and processes
Creating systems and processes will help you streamline your operations and make your business more efficient. This will free up your time so you can focus on the more strategic aspects of your business. Doing so removes the “I need to do everything around here” obstacle. Start small with 20% that will impact the 80% and don’t over complicate the activity of process mapping.
Take time for yourself
It is important to take time for yourself, both physically and mentally, so that you can recharge and come back to your business with fresh ideas. This will help you be more productive and effective in the long run. For the small business owner this is often accomplished best by planning the time to spend in the executive chair while still spending time in the truck with the field teams. After all this is a path made with small steps.
Working on your business is essential for its long-term success. By taking the time to step back from the day-to-day operations and focus on the strategic aspects of your business, you can set yourself up for growth and success.
Five actionable strategies you can use to move from working in your business to free up time to work on your business include:
Identifying your strengths and weaknesses
Take a look at yourself and understand what you are good at and what you don’t enjoy doing Once you know your strengths and weaknesses; you can start to delegate tasks to others based on their skills and experience.
Create a system for managing your time and tasks
Creating this system will help you to stay organized and on track. Many different time management systems are available, so find one that works for you and stick to it.
Set boundaries
It is important to set boundaries between your work life and your personal life. For instance, don’t check work emails or messages outside of work hours. It also means taking time for yourself each day to relax and refresh.
Outsource tasks
Many tasks can be outsourced to other businesses or individuals. This will free up time so that you can focus on the most important aspects of your business.
Take breaks
It is important to take breaks throughout the day, even if it is just for a few minutes. Get up and move around, or step outside for some fresh air. Taking breaks will help you to stay focused and productive.
By following these actionable strategies, you can start to move from working in your business to freeing up time to work on your business. This will allow you to focus on the strategic aspects of your business, such as developing new products or services, expanding your market reach, and building your team. As a result, you will be more likely to achieve your business goals and objectives.
Additional tips
Start small. Don’t try to change everything at once. Start by delegating one or two tasks to others. Once you have mastered that, you can start to delegate more.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many people who can help you to free up your time and work on your business. This includes business coaches, consultants, and other small business owners.
Be patient. It takes time to change the way you work. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep at it and eventually you will reach your goals.
Author:
Adam Spooner is a co-founder of Pareto Impact Consulting, a business consulting firm helping small to medium-sized business owners grow by delivering customized solutions that drive growth, increase profitability, and create a lasting impact.
