Time is money. So, what’s the solution for business owners who feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day? Fortunately, savvy entrepreneurs have multiple tools and strategies at their disposal. Delegation and outsourcing are two of the oldest and most reliable of the bunch. Both can help stressed professionals regain control of their schedules.

But there are other tactics that deliver equally satisfactory results. In the hectic transportation industry, fleet supervisors leverage the power of telematics to maximize vehicle uptime and rein in the expense of meeting air quality standards. Other helpful solutions to the time crunch include making detailed daily schedules, setting up a home-based office, and keeping phone calls short. Here are specifics about the most effective approaches for building a time management system.

Delegation

Delegation is an ancient art. For today’s business centurions, the benefits of delegation are the same as they were those many years ago. Delegating involves choosing one or more competent people within your organization and charging them with tasks that you can’t fit into your schedule. Managers tend to delegate to trusted employees who have proven themselves in other assignments. The secret of wise delegation is to give people small duties at first and then ramp up the complexity of the jobs with each succeeding chore. The risk is that someone won’t fulfill a job on time. That’s why it’s imperative for managers and owners to check the progress of delegated duties on a regular basis.

Telematics for Transport Fleets

Fleet managers know a thing or two about the value of time because they need every minute to do their jobs. Of the many tasks under their purview, they much make sure that all their drivers remain compliant with smog check requirements in states where clean air laws are particularly strict, like California. Drivers and supervisors must be completely familiar with those laws in order to avoid substantial fines and vehicle downtime. Maximizing the hours a truck operates is a direct and effective way to keep expenses down throughout the fleet. For government fleets in the Golden State, using telematics makes the job easier, but owners need to learn how the technology works before they can get the benefits.

Daily Schedules

Schedules are a specific form of planning, and that’s why they’re so effective. Some elements of a workable schedule include keeping strict hours, using time management apps, making detailed breakdowns of each day’s tasks, using a check-off system to designate completed items, and amending the daily plan when unexpected events arise. Scheduling is not about being unbendable, but the underlying goal is to stick to the plan and move through each day in a way that allows for short breaks.

Outsourcing

Even with all the modern technologies to boost your small business, outsourcing is a modern version of delegation but with a twist. When a manager outsources a job, it’s to a third party who charges for the service. Solo entrepreneurs are famous for sending out most operational chores to fee-based experts. In larger corporations, supervisors sometimes view outsourcing as a sign of failure. But when management teams and department heads don’t have enough room in their schedules to address various jobs, the smart option is to send the work to an outside company. Be certain to shop around before settling on a group of go-to third-party providers. Like delegating, there is an art to successful outsourcing.

Working From Home

Since the pandemic of 2020, millions of working adults at all levels and in every industry have discovered the time saving power of working from home. Financial professionals have led the way. Those who switch to telecommuting soon find out that they are not as stressed, don’t spend as much on gasoline, and can sleep a little later each morning. Plus, there are no office politics to deal with when your office is a spare bedroom instead of a high-rise office building. Home-based managers need to maintain backup connections and reliable lines of communication to get the job done right.