Main talking points include:

 

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The challenge:

We're all exceptionally busy – and if doesn't matter if we're an agency of 1 or 100, we all need to make sure that items of work aren't forgotten, deadlines are hit, our company is marketed, the booked an payroll are done, invoices are sent and that we have some time for ourselves and our family.

 

The solution:

Whilst it may sound exceptionally boring, establishing effective routines means you can become more efficient and think about the output rather than the process. This also seriously helps with delegating if some of these routines include catch-ups.

 

Here's my predicament:

• I run 2 businesses – that's two lots of staff, two lots of project management, two lots of sales and support, and two lots of everything!
• That also means everything is held in two places – we have separate project management systems.

 

Here are my techniques:

• Regular (weekly) catch-up meetings with core team members
• Weekly planning of my week (generally on a Friday)
• Start up and shut down processes
• Startup: review the day, and what needs to be done first
• Shut down: check the day (what got done vs what didn't) and confirm the plan for tomorrow
• Do, Delegate, Delete <- as much as possible... this is for far more than email
• Only check email a few times a day
• Have a separate communication channel for staff, but even then manage the notifications
• Plan your social time/activities in if they encroach on your "normal working day"
• Have a "normal working day" (or days). Mine are:
• Monday: 9-5
• Tuesday 10-6:30
• Wednesday: 9-5
• Thursday: Either 9-5 or 10-4 + 8-10 (late call every other Thursday)
• Friday 10-3 (including no meetings)
• Calendar Blocking where necessary
• Have SOPs for EVERYTHING.

 

Software to help with this:

• Project Management is in ClickUp for both companies
• I run "personal" management through ToDoist
• iCal for Calendar
• Trialling Sunsama that is bringing everything task and date based together from across all three sources (agency, SEOHive and Personal)
• Newton for EMail
• Slack for Internal Comms

 

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