Does it count as efficiency if you are able to sew 15 dresses each day? If those dresses are any good, then, by all means, the answer is yes. But, if those dresses are badly tailored and they are not much to look at, then the answer changes. Boosting your efficiency implies that you are more productive and that you can do more work in less time. However, the factor of quality should not be neglected, because it is equally important. Here are the secrets to proper business efficiency.
Budget for the Rainy Days
This kind of budget needs to exist. When it comes to your own finances, you usually have something aside to get you through the next 6 months in the worst case scenario. When it comes to business, trapping that amount of money is not realistic or efficient. You need to have a budget for rainy days, but it should not be excessive. Otherwise, your business will lack money for growth and that will cripple it.
Managing Day to Day Expenses
It is very easy to forget that the simple things around your office, that you take for granted – cost money. Offering free coffee at the office does not cost the same as having an espresso machine in the office and the choice between two types of coffee and three kinds of tea. This is just one of the simple things that add up to a fortune at the end of the month. If you run a business that involves delivering goods, talk to the people in the warehouse and listen to their advice about packing and shipping goods. They can have tons of good suggestions since that is what they do from one day to another. Make sure you reward such suggestions.
Hiring the Right Staff
This brings us to the issue of your staff. Every business thrives on excellent employees. However, this is even more true for the small businesses. If you have 4 employees and 2 of them are outstanding, this means that 50% of your company does an extraordinary job. The same goes if 2 of your employees are wrong for their jobs. This means that a half of your staff is not efficient enough. This can take your business down. Create a good and extensive hiring process and do not be the only one who makes the decision about the person that is being hired.
Gathering All the Patience in the World
You will not be making money right away. Moreover, you will probably not be making any money for a couple of months. That is perfectly normal and you need to get used to that idea. Do not expect the things to be perfect overnight and be prepared for this period of drought. Also, be patient with collecting your payments. Figure out for how long you can wait for your clients to pay you, and if that does not happen do not hesitate to use professional debt recovery services. You need your investment to return in order to survive.
The key to your business efficiency is in doing the best you can. Additionally, it lies in well-planned operations and best people at the best positions. This balance is what you need to strive for, so do your best.
