How can tradespeople better manage their schedules

As a tradesperson or the owner of a trade business, you will understand that time is money, and you need to effectively manage and distribute your workload to satisfy your clients. There are various effective ways you can begin to better oversee your team and lead your business to success through scheduling time.

Let's look at a few tips on managing your schedule for a more significant effect on your team, clients and workload.

Implement A System

If you struggle daily to keep on top of your workload, admin, team and finances, then you may need the help of a job management software that can benefit your business in more than one way. 

By implementing a task management system, you will find yourself free from infinite notepads. This will not only help you save the planet but will also save you time every day by finding everything you need in one neat software which will help you plan every project from start to finish.

Plan Ahead 

One of the first and critical aspects of keeping on top of your work schedule is by planning. This task can be implemented into your Monday morning for 15 minutes before the day starts and will set you up nicely for the week ahead. Take a look at the projects and appointments you have coming up and re-organise them to fit expectations but also realistic deadlines. This will help to avoid last-minute pressure and complications that lead to unhappy clients and a stressful work environment.

Set Realistic Deadlines 

When you are arranging your daily, weekly and monthly schedule, you will need to set realistic deadlines and ensure these are relayed to your team and clients. It's essential to avoid adding more workload to your calendars than you and your team can manage. You will need to build your work schedules with customer experience as a priority; if you have more tasks than time, you will create a reputation for delivering poor-quality work with bad timekeeping. When planning the diary, ask your team how long specific jobs will take for particular customers. This will enable you to plan your days accurately, including your travel times and other errands that may need to be run, gathering the essential equipment.

Delegate Tasks Efficiently

If you have a team or external help, use them effectively. Their support will only benefit you in the long run and create a cohesive work environment. Assigning responsibilities to other capable employees will free up your valuable time to focus on your priorities. Successful task delegation will work if you have an understanding of each employee's strengths and expertise and by providing them with clear and concise expectations and resources. If you are a smaller company and do not yet have a workforce to delegate to, you may consider working with freelancers that have qualifications and knowledge in your specific fields.

Breaks Are Necessary

While this may seem counterintuitive if your current schedule and workload negatively affect your day and you are unsure how to best manage your time, take a break. This could be for 15 minutes or an hour to gain some clarity on the situation. Taking a break during the day is essential to recharge and move your body. This will give you a clear perspective and a motivational boost, enhancing your focus and reducing stress levels. Incorporating breaks into your schedule promotes a healthy work-life balance.

Saying No Is Ok

Having the competence to say no will only further improve the well-being of yourself and your team. It can be challenging to decline opportunities that come forward; however, setting boundaries and understanding your capabilities as a team is essential. Overworking will only lead to burnout, a decline in morale and poor results. Providing a below-standard service because you are overbooked will have a more negative effect on your business than saying no. 

Wrapping up

In conclusion, managing your trade business schedule is a crucial task. Implementing strategies including technologies, communication, delegation and prioritisation will optimise your business operations and improve the team's productivity and satisfaction. Taking control of your business schedule will create a more outstanding work-life balance, reduce stress and improve your success. 

How Powered Now can help

Our Powered Now all-in-one business app is created with these challenges in mind. Whether you are looking for electrician, plumbing or gas engineer software, our app will enable you to communicate with your team and clients, create professional finance reports, track your employees and resources, as well as schedule appointments and jobs without any confusion or hassle. Book a free demo today.