NEW YORK — Time is the one resource that cannot be bought, stored or recycled. Successful owners of drycleaning businesses know that proper management of this precious commodity is essential for effective leadership and company management.
Rashelle Isip, a New York City-based productivity consultant and time management coach with The Order Expert, discussed this topic in detail during her recent online presentation, “Time Management Strategies for Small-Business Owners,” sponsored by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).
The Importance of Time Management
“You’ve probably heard things like ‘Time is limited,’ or ‘You’re really busy, you have a lot of things to do,’” Isip says. “While those things may be true, I’d like to approach time management through a different lens — one that encompasses yourself, your business and all the things that you have to do in your life.”
Isip put forth several reasons why business owners should make managing their time a priority.
“First, you serve clients and customers,” she says. “These people rely on you for your products and services. Second, you lead employees and staff. These folks turn to you for the different roles and responsibilities that they provide to your business. Also, you work with other businesses. No company exists in a vacuum, so you need to learn how to work with businesses during normal business hours.”
Owners should pay attention to their own needs as well.
“You also have business goals and desires,” Isip says. “What do those look like? When you learn time management skills, you’ll be better able to prepare for those things in the future. You also support yourself and your family. Having a business is a great thing, and when you’re able to better manage your time at the business and the time when you’re with your family and friends, the better off you’ll be overall.”
Critical Calendar Systems
For Isip, setting up a calendar system is the cornerstone of effective time management — and it’s also something that many businesspeople neglect to do.
“When you decided to set up your business, you got all the necessary paperwork in order, opened up bank accounts and perhaps got permits, licenses or certifications,” she says. “Similarly, you want to make sure that your calendar is set up for success.”
Setting up a calendar system, Isip says, creates a structure for your business to grow and thrive.
“It offers a predictable schedule for you to follow during the day and the week, so you’re not caught off guard by things,” she says. “It also protects your work boundaries — you know when and where you’re going to be working at any point in time.”
Calendars also help owners and managers plan for the future.
“Having a calendar allows for improved planning when you know what’s going to happen in the next several weeks or months,” Isip says. “You can make better decisions right now that affect you and your business. Also, (it) ensures you have space for rest and breaks. This is important.”
When it comes to deciding on a calendar system, owners should pay the most attention to what would work best for them, whether it’s a paper planner or digital calendar: “What matters is that you enjoy using the format and that you’re going to use it on a regular basis.”
Setting Up a Calendar
So, how should a drycleaning owner go about setting up their general business calendar?
“I like to tell folks that we’re going to lay down a foundation,” Isip says. “We’re going to set up some structures that will help us better manage our overall time when it comes to our business and personal lives.”
Isip’s first step is to set up business and working hours.
“When is your business going to receive clients or customers?” she asks. “When are you dealing with vendors or suppliers? When are your employees or staff going to come to work? If you haven’t yet done so — or even if you have — this is a great time to set up these hours for yourself and to make it crystal clear to others.”
Predictable business closures, such as holidays, come next.
“These are great things to add to your calendar right now,” Isip says. “Also vacation and personal leave. I know these things can get swept away because we get so busy. But keeping track of these items is going to help you move forward in your work. They afford you the rest time that you need from your business. So, if you want to build a strong business, you need to account for these items in your calendar.”
She also advises owners to include industry events, association meetings and webinars on their calendars that will help move the business forward.
Next, consider office hours.
“This is the time you spend in the office doing business-owner-type activities such as administration or meeting with clients,” Isip says. “Things that only you can do as the owner of your business.”
Come back Tuesday when we’ll discuss how to manage the day-to-day items that can peck away at a schedule if not managed.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].
