Productivity is a big topic for startups and startup founders. Between products to develop, investors to impress and clients to find, there is a lot to do. Pressure adds up, and day after day tasks replace each other so that the only thing we do is run after time.

As a business adviser, my job is to support CEOs week after week and to help with making sure that every resource is allocated in a way that makes sense. In a startup environment, the interesting is however that while the focus is very commonly on increasing productivity, people focus on the wrong elements.

They try to do more. They try to be everywhere. They try all they can, just in case. And they usually end up with a feeling of dissatisfaction because, well, he who goes everywhere doesn’t go anywhere.

The question which usually comes next is this one: how do we do it? And when that happens, my experience with business coaching tells me that things will as always points in one precise direction: strategic and Impact thinking (or the lack of).

In most cases, startup founders look for a quick fix, but in reality, the roots of the problem are so deep that the only way for them to become more productive is to completely review the way they approach things. Whether that’s the work they do, their methods, and their goals.

My point is very straightforward here: startup productivity is not just about trying to do more, it is about focusing on what really matters – and that usually requires to start with business basics.

Also Read: Is technology killing workspace productivity ? how to switch that around

Now, if you’re reading this article chances are that you are looking for practical tips as to what you could do, so let’s dig into the topic with three tips borrowed from business coaching and productivity methodologies.

Tip 1: Set goals

A key aspect of my job as a business adviser is to help entrepreneurs, startup CEOs and founding teams to realize that to obtain better results the starting point is always to set very clear goals.

The point probably sounds silly to you right now. And that’s fine. Like it or not, investing some time in defining precise goals is the only way to set an agenda, to implement that agenda, and to assess whether things go in the right direction every now and then. The question is, are your goals clear?

Think about it. When was the last time you took some time to write down your goals for the next three years? For next year? For the next three months? In my experience, most people never do that because they are too busy with “getting shit done”. Yet sooner or later they end-up facing issues.

Here is a fact: long-term goals give you a direction and they give you a framework for defining reasonable and assessable KPIs. It’s a bit like a GPS, in reality. Those who don’t have one can take a lot more time to get to their final destination.

In sum? My first actionable tip when it comes to startups productivity is this one: invest a little bit of time on defining what really matters. Get the direction right and define what the priorities are, the rest will be easier.

Tip 2: Reconsider the way you use time

The second startup productivity tip which comes to my mind is that startup CEOs and founding teams should reconsider the way they use time. At the end of the day, the point is not to produce quantity but to deliver on the strategic bits which really (really) matter – and that kind of re-focused focus makes a massive difference.

Look critically at your typical week agenda and see for yourself. How many hours a week do you spend on to-do lists? How many times a week do you work on admin and invoicing? How many hours a week do you spend on simply answering emails?

The point often looks silly to clients, but once they start to play along, they all realize their time is not used properly. Routines are the wrong ones, and the outcome of all the time, energy and money spent are usually the desired one.

Also Read: Scale up your productivity, scale up your business

As silly as it is, this little exercise will also make you realize that multitasking is not always productive, and in many cases, this simple realization has made an enormous difference. Just saying…

Tip 3: Allocate time and resources on strategy

My third startup productivity tip is that startup CEOs and founding teams should allocate more time and resources on strategy development.

Way too often, startups pitch great solutions which end-up soling no real problem, which means that from the beginning their work has not been productive. Yes, they have done a lot (and effectively produced a lot), but if the results don’t create value what is the productivity gain?

The logic is simple here. Productivity is a matter of organizing yourself to reach qualitative benchmarks and milestones, beyond just quantity. Hence, your ability to allocate some times to figure out what works and what doesn’t work from a strategic perspective is key.

Hence the third actionable tip here is this one: invest three hours a week discussing your Impact 101 strategy with your co-founders or with a trusted adviser of your liking, and make sure that everything you do actually makes sense from a long-term perspective.

Or, said differently, make sure that everything you do now gets you closer to the goals you have defined for the next year and for the next three years. It’s as simple as that, really.

Bottom line: Realize that startup productivity isn’t about quantity

These 3 tips are actionable, and in my experience,  have a major impact on those who work on them. Give it a try and see for yourself.

We always say that ultimately Business Karma will decide, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t work on influencing what comes next. Right?

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Image Credit: Isaac Smith

 

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