1. Make Appointments. One of the best ways to improve your productivity is to set specific times for meeting with employees, vendors, etc. Instead of letting people catch you when you “have a minute,” respectfully request that they make an appointment to meet with you. Admittedly, this does feel a little rigid and a little less relaxed than an open door policy, but it will guarantee fewer interruptions and the ability to get more done. One of the biggest benefits of this is that you can be prepared for a meeting in a way you can't be prepared for an impromptu chat, and that means your meeting time will be more effective and run more smoothly. So pick a day of the week to have all of your meetings. Set them all up at your office and schedule them back-to-back so that you have to stay on schedule. You'll find yourself more focused and more productive.



2. Take Your Phone Number Off of Your Website. Obviously this doesn't work for everyone, but if you can do so without compromising your business, remove your phone number from your website. And when you do get phone calls, be intentional about screening them. Don't answer unless you know who it is and you know that they need to speak to your urgently. For all other communication, put a web form on your website that allows visitors to contact you.

3. Hire Some Help. Volunteers, interns, and staff are all key to helping you improve your productivity. From the moment you start your business, you should be figuring out which work can be successfully handled by other people. Your job is to build the business. And remember that money is only one incentive. Be creative as you determine how you can compensate others.

4. Set Aside One Day for Administrative Tasks. Doing administration work as it arises is very tempting, especially because it's quite rewarding to see menial administrative issues leave your desk. But avoid the temptation. Administrative work can be very distracting and can suck up valuable time. Instead, write down all of your administrative tasks and pick one day during the week to devote to them.

5. Set Aside the Morning. You're freshest in the morning, so set aside several hours each morning to tackle one project that will make a difference in the success of your business. Make sure your staff knows not to bother you, and don't take any phone calls or schedule any meetings. Once your project is complete, you'll be refreshed and rejuvenated, and you can look forward to everything else your day has to offer. It's tempting to pick up smaller tasks to work on each morning, but discipline yourself to take on one big project without even considering everything else that needs to be done. This is one of the best ways to keep your business moving forward all the time, and when you show respect for your own time, your employees will learn to do the same.

6. Limit Email. Avoid the temptation to treat email like an instant messenger. You don't need to check it every five minutes and you certainly don't need to respond immediately. If someone needs you urgently, they will call. Checking your email once a day will not cause you to lose business. In fact, it will increase your productivity. Pretty soon people will learn not to expect an immediate response from you and nothing will suffer.