Have you ever observed someone who seems to be busy all the time, but doesn’t really get anything done? Do you feel that sometimes you’re in the same boat? How do you know if you’re productive or just busy?
What are your goals?
Those who are productive generally have goals and focus most or all of their work on achieving those goals. Of course, there are always going to be distractions, but those distractions should never take priority over your big picture.
Do you focus or multi-task?
When you multitask it often makes you seem very busy. You’re always doing something, but you are rarely doing any one thing very well. You’ll be more productive if you focus on doing one thing at a time.
Do you delegate?
Delegating can be hard for entrepreneurs, and I get it. Sometimes you take on tasks that would really be better delegated to someone else. As a business owner who often believes no one can do it as well as I can, this may be extremely difficult. So I suggest you start by delegating personal tasks while keeping the focus on business tasks.
Do you say no?
Productive entrepreneurs know how to say no to something that is going to take them away from completing important tasks or activities in their business. If you don’t have time to fit in one more thing, know that it’s okay to say no.
Do you let some things go?
Now, this may sound counterproductive, erasing some of the things on your tasks from your “to-do” list. Thank about the tasks you’ve taken on yourself and if they do not move your vision forward and will take up extra time.
Do you have a schedule?
Those who are productive tend to have a schedule for each day of what needs to be done and when. If you’re not planning ahead, chances are you’re staying busy but not productive.
Do you complete your projects?
You can be busy doing something all day long, every day and never get a project completed. If you find you’re starting a lot of things without finishing them, it’s time to look at your priorities and become more productive.
When you find yourself being very busy but not accomplishing much, it might bring on a sense of anxiety. You begin to worry about all the things you need to do that aren’t getting done.
But when you’re productive, you can actually feel peace of mind at the end of your workday.
Make sure you know what’s important, and have a plan to get it done on time.
