Running a small business requires you to be generalist, with focus on multiple daily, weekly and monthly tasks. From finance to sales to business operations, you have to be on top of it all.
Unfortunately our brains aren’t designed to deliver peak performance while multitasking – that’s where technology comes in.
Luckily it’s 2017 which means you have the benefit of available technology that can radically boost your productivity by improving your time and task management game.
But with so many options available, it’s easy to fall into analysis paralysis. It’s important to find the right set of tools for your small business specifically, but here are a few of our favorites to get you started.
1. Trello
Trello is one of the most popular project management tools. It allows you to create projects, tasks, have centralized conversations with your team and schedule the deadlines.
It works the best if you follow the kanban method; a project management process invented by Toyota, now followed by many startups in software development companies.
Trello is a favorite tool of the Hatchbuck team, but there are a ton of solid alternatives including Asana, Basecamp and Wrike.
2. Wunderlist
Wunderlist is a task management app that can be used for both personal and professional prioritization. As a business solution, it allows you to collaborate on tasks with others and use it for project management. As a personal solution, it allows you to schedule events, make grocery lists and set reminders.
Unlike other project management tools, it’s simple and designed to tick off the tasks as you schedule them with dates and deadlines. It works well on a phone or tablet, along with the desktop version, making it super easy to use on the go.
3. Harvest
Harvest is one of the best time tracking apps for teams and individuals. It helps you schedule your projects and track the time on completion but also offers many other valuable features.
A few highlights include invoicing and payments, expense tracking, integration with 100+ other apps and outstanding customer support. If you’re looking for an all-in-one time management tool, Harvest is a fantastic choice.
4. GSuite
This one should be a no-brainer. GSuite,the collection of Google apps specifically designed for businesses of all sizes for very affordable pricing. From Gmail for Business and Google Calendar to apps like Google Keep, you can integrate them all together for seamless productivity.
5. Focus Booster
Ever heard of the Pomodoro Technique?
If not, it’s something you should be familiar with as a small business owner. This simple time tracking method can dramatically boost your productivity.
In short, you set a task, a timer and a break and work in blocks of time (usually 25 minutes). Focus Booster is among the best apps to manage that. If you’re stuck in the stone age, you can just grab a pen, paper and a simple kitchen timer to try out the technique.
For Mac, there’s a great alternative called Tomato One, that you can get in the App Store.
6. Boomerang
Boomerang works with Gmail and allows you to create simple follow-up reminders and schedule your emails into the future.
The idea is simple. Some emails, when responded to, can trigger a lengthy, unproductive conversation. Instead, you can simply use Boomerang to respond to all of your emails at once.
This way you can process all of your emails but make sure you’re not feeding the loop of unproductive conversations that aren’t urgent.
7. Brain.fm
Brain.fm was designed by a team of neuroscientists originally to help improve their own productivity. Simply put, the app uses music to put you in a desired cognitive state.
For example, if you want to use your time efficiently, your goal is to maximize focus. Brain.fm uses original music that’s consistent with the brainwaves of your focused state. Translation: this means you definitely will not be hearing today’s Top 40 on Brain.fm, but the app claims that it can deliver results within the first 10 minutes. With that kind of turnaround, we can all be productivity ninjas in no time.
