‘Do less and think more’: eight expert tips on boosting productivity for entrepreneurs theguardian com

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Emma Sheppard
January 25, 2022
‘Do less and think more’: eight expert tips on boosting
productivity for entrepreneurs
theguardian.com
/supercharge-your-business/2022/jan/25/do-less-and-think-more-eight-expert-tips-on-boosting-
productivity-for-entrepreneurs
Build focus like a muscle, take a break and prioritise ‘deep work’ – the secrets to achieving
your business goals
Productivity can be an elusive goal for all professionals, but for small business owners,
there never seem to be enough minutes in the day. Whether it’s running reports,
answering customer emails, pitching for new business, or dealing with admin, many
entrepreneurs are left frustrated that they’re not making enough meaningful progress
despite tackling tasks all-day-long. We asked four experts for their top tips on how “Soho”
(small office/home office) business owners can boost productivity.
Have a routine
 
Business coach and growth specialist Kevin Riley finds that building structure into the
working day helps keep entrepreneurs on track. “Humans are creatures of habit and the
better our routine, the more productive we are,” he says. “I commute to work, even when
I’m working from home, taking a 30-minute walk before my day starts and after logging
off in the evening.”
Riley also advocates setting 30 minutes aside at the end of the day to tie off loose ends and
plan for tomorrow. “That means when I walk into the office at 8 or 9am, I’m ready to go.
I’m not thinking, where do I start?”
Outsource where you can 
 
Even solo entrepreneurs shouldn’t try to do everything themselves, says John McLachlan,
organisational psychologist and co-author ofTime Mastery: Banish Time Management
Forever. “One of the things I spend a lot of time doing with entrepreneurs is encouraging
them to do less and think more. Focus on what you’re good at, the skills that have made
you successful and spend more time doing that.”
Other tasks can be delegated to employees or outsourced to specialists such as
accountants, virtual PAs, designers and digital marketing experts, he adds.