By Anne Balogh
The owner or manager of a remodeling firm often assumes multiple roles: designer, estimator, salesperson, supervisor and recruiter, to name a few. Juggling all these responsibilities can be exhausting, and worse, it may prevent you from contributing the most value to your company and its clients.
Remodelers often are "outrageously overworked," say Linda Case and Victoria Downing, authors of Mastering the Business of Remodeling and business consultants with Remodelers Advantage Inc. (www.remodelersadvantage.com). They recommend that remodelers start by assessing whether they are taking on too much work or just mismanaging their time. Often both factors contribute to burnout.
Here are 10 tips for lightening your workload and managing your time more efficiently:
1. Keep a log. Chances are you're so busy you haven't really thought about how you're divvying up your time. "Time-pressed remodelers should analyze their activities to focus on those with the highest impact within the company," says Victoria. She suggests keeping a two-week log of all work activities (such as job-site visits, material takeoffs, and contacting clients), noting how long each one takes. The log will give you the big picture of a typical workweek, and help you see where your time might be better spent.
2. Delegate. If you discover that you're using time unwisely, then entrust tasks to others in your firm or outsource the work. Consider your time as the business owner worth about $50 or more an hour. If anyone else is able to do the work competently for less, hand it over. "It's easy to find someone to do your books or to send out marketing materials, but it's hard to find anyone else who can think strategically about the business or do the planning that's so important if the business is to be successful," Victoria stresses.
3. Train employees well. You won't feel uneasy about letting employees take charge if you have total confidence in their abilities. Help them master the skills essential to the job, whether you conduct the training yourself or enroll employees in job-related training programs. The payoff: a motivated workforce with the know-how necessary to make smart decisions without your supervision.
4. Devote a day to the office. Don't spend most of your time out in the field and neglect essential office work, such as completing estimates and following up with clients. Both Victoria and Linda suggest spending four days in the field and one full day each week in the office. Remodeling contractors who have adopted this approach save time because they can focus on tasks without interruption.
5. Don't micromanage. Let your office staff and field crews carry out the everyday tasks you've trained them to do. If they're constantly looking over their shoulders knowing that you could show up any minute, it not only creates tension for them, it takes you away from more important duties such as business planning and networking.
6. Prioritize. Focus your efforts on the work that is most urgent. Set A-B-C goals for the day and complete all A tasks before moving on to less important B and C activities.
7. Get organized. Take advantage of today's computer technology by using scheduling and database software to plan your activities, manage appointments, and keep track of client addresses and project history.
8. Don't procrastinate. Don't squander your time by setting work aside that you can tackle right away. Handle work only once rather than face it again later. That advice applies both to paperwork and business decisions.
9. Know your work style. Do you wake up in the morning exploding with energy, only to lose steam by the end of the day? If so, try to schedule your most challenging tasks, such as job site supervision, training and recruiting, for when you're at your peak. Save the end of the day for less-draining work, such as preparing contracts or ordering materials.
10. Recharge your batteries. The day-to-day drudgery of running a business can sap your energy. Recharge by getting away from the job to reconnect with yourself and your community. One way to revive your spirits: volunteer work. Follow the example of Randall Hall, president of Randall Hall Design, Build, Remodeling Inc., Dallas, and the National Association of Home Builders' 2004 Remodelor™ of the Year. Over the years, he has devoted time to many volunteer organizations, including Hearts & Hammers (www.heartsandhammers.org) and Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org).
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