5 Organizational Skills Small Business Owners Must Possess

Who hasn’t seen the phrase “organizational skills” listed as a requirement of a position? It might seem excessive that this vague term in such demand, but the possession of organizational skills can make or break your career success.

While this is true for any role, it is even more important for a small business owner.* As there are so many tasks to juggle on any given day, keeping everything organized is the best way to ensure being able to maintain even some semblance of work/life balance which as we know all too well, is essential to positive mental health. It's also essential to effectively run a business, and especially through periods of economic uncertainty.

Organizational skills are defined as, a set of techniques used by an individual to facilitate the efficiency of future-oriented learning, problem-solving, and task completion; It requires the integration of several elements to reach a planned goal.

Listed below are 5 essential organizational skills to propel a small business toward success:

1. Scheduling. More than just scheduling shifts and meetings, a small business owner is responsible to ensure scheduling of every aspect that goes into running the business. From scheduling progress check-ins for projects to scheduling incentive programs for sales goals, the ability to create a schedule and stick to it is essential to running the business.
2. Delegation. It’s impossible for one person to handle everything that needs to happen to keep a business running smoothly—that’s why delegation is key. By delegating, in not only lightens the load on the owner's shoulders, it empowers the team to tackle difficult tasks .
3. Time Management. In many jobs, time is managed for the employee. They're provided with small goals on the way to larger accomplishments and project timelines are completed at their manager’s discretion. However, as a small business owner, those project timelines and daily tasks are set by themselves - often, reactive to needs. Proactive management of time is key to improving productivity.
4. People Management. Managing is commonly regarded as a “people skill,” but it takes organizational savvy as well. Planning evaluations, building a successful team and orchestrating group meetings may not be the leadership tasks that get all the attention, but they’re just as integral to being a respected and regarded manager.
5. Preparation. Being prepared is the key to staying on top of business routines. Whether it’s taking notes before a meeting with staff, franchisor, or banker or jotting down the next to-do list at the end of the day, starting off on the right foot will keep the business owner from playing catch-up when they should be looking ahead.

*Note: Small business owners include small independent business operators (Mom & Pop), franchisees, restaurant operators, professional services providers (law offices, medical offices) and even solopreneurs with staff.

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