We all have different ways of organising our work and have varying degrees of efficiency. Although it may go against the grain for some of us, effective efficiency requires consistency, and requires setting up great habits (both for yourself and your staff).

Here are some ideas you can implement to improve your business systems and productivity:

• Be tidy, orderly and neat. It gives customers a good impression of your business and helps staff to be more efficient (instead of losing time looking for misplaced items and so on).
• Keep your financial accounts up to date. Whether you do this yourself or contract someone else to do it, this is essential for keeping on top of your ‘numbers’. You cannot make good business decisions if you are unclear about your current financial situation.
• Create a checklist of daily and regular tasks. This enables you and/or your staff to know exactly what needs to be done each day so that time is not wasted trying to remember (or decide) what tasks are urgent or essential. It also provides a flow on effect to your customers: you can better serve them when you are efficient and organised.
• Train your staff well. There is no point having a great written policy or memo to your staff about being more efficient. You firstly have to model efficiency in the way you as the business owner conduct yourself. And secondly, you need to train staff from the beginning of their employment, and manage their progress carefully, to ensure that the right habits are formed. Setting good habits from the start is immensely easier (and more efficient) than breaking bad ones.

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender