In any small business, setting goals and practicing time management techniques are two necessary elements for success. Annually, at a minimum, small business owners and managers should meet to determine the business goals for the upcoming period. The business goals that are set should be SMART–specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Time management comes into play with the measurable and timely aspects of goal setting.
Provide Direction
Setting goals in a small business provides direction for everyone who is a part of the business. When employees and managers are aware of the goals, it puts everyone on the same page and working toward, the same outcome. By setting goals, employees know where the bulk of their time each day should be focused. They are better able to prioritize their workload based on the goals of the business, and manage their time better while they are at work.
Meet Deadlines
All goals that are set should be timely, meaning that there is a set deadline attached to the goal. This gives employees motivation to meet the goal within a certain time period. It also provides the information needed to develop an action plan so that the goal can be met within the stated timeframe. Employees will then be able to manage their time better during the day as they have an action plan for each goal that will guide their tasks throughout the work day.
Avoid Wasted Time
When goals have been set within the organization, it is less likely that employees will be wasting time while at work. With a set number of specific goals, employees will always have a task that can be done to work toward accomplishing the goals. This can avoid times at work when employees are left wondering what should be done next. One major detractor from effective time management is dealing with time wasters during the day. By having set goals in place, it is easier to effectively manage all work time.
Manage Distractions
Employees are often faced with distractions during the work day from phone calls to other co-workers’ personal issues that have been brought into the workplace. There may also be smaller projects that are introduced or new projects that could possibly improve the business. When the employee has a set plan with business goals to follow, it helps to effectively manage their time. When a distraction arises, they can easily review the goals of the business to see if working on that task will help to meet the goals. If it will not, they can simply move on to a more effective task.
Improve Overall Business
A business that is focused on goal setting, action plans and time management techniques for employees is likely to be more effective in the industry. Time will not be wasted on tasks that do not contribute toward the overall goals of the business while employees will be focused on what needs to be done to ensure success. By managing all working hours of the business, the business can improve productivity as well as the bottom line of the small business.
source: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-goal-setting-time-management-tool-2510.html
