News

Quiet Days and 10 ways to make them count

04/02/2010

Every business has periods when they are less busy — whether it's due to work only coming in at certain times of the month or that you simply have a lull in trade. However, it is important to make the best use of these periods in preparation for busier times. Follow our tips to make the most of quieter days

1. Prioritise the work you have. You should not put things off just because they are not urgent — now could be the time to start them in order to free up time later on. Equally, don't postpone unpleasant tasks. Write a list of things that need to be done in order of importance, giving yourself realistic deadlines for each one. Try to vary monotonous tasks with more interesting ones.
2. Assess your operation. Use slower periods to review your work processes and your business objectives. Compare the way you are working and your progress against your business plan. Try to highlight areas where you can make improvements and update your business plan accordingly.
3. Plan your future workload. Look at the future projects you have lined up, and put together a diary of the things you need to do for each one.
4. Review your finances. Evaluate your regular costs and expenses and consider where you can make savings. You might be able to negotiate a better rate with suppliers, for example, or reduce waste in your business.
5. Communicate with your staff. Carry out any internal meetings or training sessions that you have been delaying. Staff will appreciate that you have spent time with them, and a well-informed workforce is likely to be more motivated and productive.
6. Generate customer feedback. Asking customers for feedback on previous work will help you correct any mistakes and adapt your products and services to the needs of the market. If you have a website, encourage customers to comment online, or take the time to call them up to ask how they rate your business and what could be improved.
7. Build new contacts. The spare time you have on your hands provides the perfect opportunity to get out and make contact with new customers at networking events and trade fairs. Contact your local Chambers of Commerce or Enterprise Agency to find out about events in your area.
8. Get on top of administration. Try to address those boring tasks that you never have time to do ordinarily, such as filing emails and recording invoices. It may seem like a chore, but getting this administration out of the way can help give you a clearer mind when you need to get on with more challenging work.
9. Organise your workspace. Having a well-organised desk or workspace will help you be more efficient and find things that you need quickly. A wall-chart displaying where you are up to with each project could also help you keep on top of your workload.
10. Catch up on premises maintenance. If there is anything that has been bothering you about your premises, such as a draughty window, a leaky tap or a crack in the ceiling, call in the tradesmen while your workplace is less hectic.

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