Whether you own a small business or manage a large organization, staff efficiency is key to making your company run smoothly. Let your office or retail staff focus on their main priorities and streamline your business with these 5 key tips.
1. Sharing is Caring
If you have internal documents to edit with your staff, using a secure, shared system so that the whole team can access necessary files or drafts without having to be in the same room at the same time. Whether you choose to use the Google drive, Basecamp, Slack, Evernote Business, Sharepoint or Wrike – there are a variety of solutions at all different price points. Pending on your goals, the size of your business and all the features that you will need, there are plenty of tools for you to choose from. This can cut down on the need for lengthy in person meetings, and allow your staff to communicate quickly and efficiently.
2. Use an Online Scheduler
Instead of wasting valuable staff time on creating and maintaining work schedules and/or client appointment times, utilize an online schedule system to handle the work of scheduling automatically. Try out a software such as MINDBODY or Square Appointments – you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much easier your day will become. Both staff and clients or customers can access these systems without having to tie up your valuable staff on back and forth emails or calls.
3. Be Goal Oriented
Make sure that your staff has a clear idea of what their individual goals are, and how those goals relate to the overall goals of your company. This helps your staff be more efficient by prompting them to focus on what matters most. For example, if you run a hotel and your goal is to increase bookings by 20%, staff should ensure their work is helping to achieve that bigger goal. If your staff finds that they’re stuck doing tasks that don’t relate to the larger mission or vision, then work to determine the best way to support staff so that they can refocus on the big picture.
4. Delegate
Encourage your staff to delegate tasks whenever it’s affordable and practical to do so. If you have a small staff, it’s vital that you maximize their work time to ensure that you get the best outcomes possible. This can mean freeing your staff up from certain tasks that can be easily accomplished by another specialty service provider that you can outsource the work to.
5. Use a Live Answering Service
Finally, partnering with a live answering service can be a stellar way to make your staff more efficient. By freeing up your team from fielding phone calls about basic company information, client scheduling, and/or purchase questions, you can let them focus on the work of growing your company and delivering the best product or service possible to the people who support your company. An answering service will let your customers get an immediate response when they call, without distracting key staff from their priorities.
Remember, the secret to making your business more efficient is staying focused on what really matters, which means being attentive to your customers’ needs. For more information on how a live answering service can help your staff be more efficient to grow your business, contact MAP Communications today!
Here are some related articles you might be interested in:
Why an Answering Service is a Smart Investment for a Startup Business
5 Ways to Increase Your Bottom Line & Grow Your Business
Using a Small Business Answering Service to Balance Work and Family Time
