What are the best ways to keep track of deadlines for your small business?

People who don't know you look for objective factors to be able to assess whether to trust you...with their business, with their money, with their future. One of the easiest ways to demonstrate your reliability is by doing what you say you will do. Hitting deadlines is crucial to do this. But! Don't just meet a deadline with shoddy work or gap filling. Plan appropriately so you can, as they say, "over deliver." Reputations are hard to build but easy to destroy, you have to give every project your full attention and make it count. Inevitably, there will be times when you can't make a deadline because you want to give quality. Communicate and overestimate time needed when you slip because you can't keep going back to ask for more time.

Every day "to do" list whether on paper or my calendar. Always adding, always crossing off completed items. Out of sight equals out of mind.

1. Calendar Applications: Utilize digital calendar applications like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook. Set reminders for important deadlines to receive notifications in advance. 2. Project Management Tools: Use project management tools such as Trello, Asana, or Monday.com. Break down tasks, assign deadlines, and track progress collaboratively. 3. Task Management Apps: Consider task management apps like Todoist or Wunderlist. Create lists, set due dates, and receive alerts to stay on top of deadlines. Why Deadlines Matter: Efficiency: Deadlines drive efficiency by creating a sense of urgency and focus.

Utilize integrated calendar and task management tools to keep track of deadlines efficiently. Platforms like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, or project management tools such as Asana or Trello allow you to visualize deadlines, set reminders, and allocate resources effectively, ensuring a streamlined approach to deadline management within your small business.

You are your business. So, nothing - not your Franklin Planner, calendar, Google calendar, Outlook calendar keeps track of you business like your intuition and a nice a glass of wine. Seriously, when it comes down to it, on a minute by minute basis? Your best executive assistant is going to be your intuition and sense of what needs to get done and when. So, absolutely, use any of the afore noted tools to affect but always trust your "gut sense" because those are the genius chess moves masquerading as a weird feeling or just a "hunch". Nobody on the face of planet earth knows your business better that you - at a granular mitochondria DNA level. Trust your sixth sense to get it right - you know the date, the time, the why and the when.

This is “old school” but I have always written all tasks down on paper in chronological order. I line through them when completed. It forces you to prioritize, review and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you complete the task.

??Scheduling?? is our new ??Deadline??. Realistic deadlines are only possible if tasks are broken down to small blocs and filled in a calendar. Instead of focusing on a deadline we focus on task scheduling. The progress is better monitored with room for adjustment before the actual deadline.

Conduct a thorough assessment of the entire project before setting deadlines. Consider not only the immediate tasks but also the interconnected elements that may impact the timeline. This holistic approach ensures that your deadlines account for the

Assess Task Complexity: Take into account the complexity of each task and what it entails. Break down larger projects into smaller tasks to estimate time more accurately. Consider Resources: Evaluate your resources, including manpower and tools, to set achievable deadlines. Buffer Time: Include buffer time for unexpected delays or issues that may arise.

Prazos: "N?o existe fórmula mágica para prazos"! N?o existe uma legisla??o específica determinando um prazo de entrega, mas o Código de Defesa do Consumidor (CDC) determina que o consumidor tem direito a essa informa??o no momento em que estiver fazendo uma compra. Logística: "LED TIME", Tempo decorrido do momento do pedido até entrega do produto, o menor prazo possível é o ideal, encanta o cliente. Comercial: Semelhante a lógistica antecipa??o pode encantar, ou um atraso, pode ter o gatilho de escazes, negoci??o e jogo de cintura, malícia. Fornecedores: Trabalhar com único fornecedor, tem dois lados, um relacionamento estreito, poucos conflitos, dois fica merce do fornecedor do prazo dele para entregar o produto final ao consumidor.

I have often told my family there is no way I could manage all the activities in our life as a busy Mom and business executive without my outlook calendar! The answer is simple. If it is not on my calendar, I won't remember so send me a calendar invite! Life is so busy that I can't rely on a paper calendar, but everyone has to do what works best for them. My 17 year old still doesn't get all the calendar invites I send to track my busy life. I hope one day he will since I don't know how I would manage time without it. I would also recommend using only one calendar for personal and business. In outlook, you can mark personal activity as private so everything is together and has been a life saver.

Having both a calendar and a planner has been crucial for me to stay organized. My personal rule is simple: "if it's not on the calendar, it won't happen!" Keeping a digital calendar allows me to access my schedule anytime, anywhere, as I always have my phone with me. At the same time, a physical planner helps me plan out my business activities, and the act of writing down my ideas and plans helps me remember them better.

Digital Calendars: Utilize digital calendars (Google Calendar, Outlook) for setting reminders, scheduling tasks, and blocking off time for high-priority activities. Physical Planners: For those who prefer a tangible method, physical planners can be effective for visualizing deadlines and tasks.

I have been teaching time-blocking to entrepreneurs for years. Sometimes small business owners are reluctant to time blocking because they think they will have constraints. Actually, time blocking does the opposite, it gives you FREEDOM!

While many people have shifted to using a digital planner and calendar, I on the other hand enjoy using a physical planner to complement my digital calendar. Not only do I enjoy jotting down tasks and appointments with pen and paper, I find that when I write things down, that I am more likely to remember them. I also find that I am more connected to my schedule as it offers a tangible connection and intentionality to time management.

Two words: kanban boards. Kanban boards are a visual management tool, and the primary way to use them is via software such as Trello and ClickUp. They feature columns like "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done" to track work stages. Tasks are cards moving across columns, showing progress. Its simplicity and adaptability allow teams to understand overall and individual task progress, enhancing organization and focus. By restricting tasks in the "In Progress" phase, it avoids team overload and spots workflow issues. Kanban optimizes operations for small teams, boosting efficiency, communication, and goal achievement, even with limited resources. That defines most small businesses I know!

Selecting Software: Choose project management software (Asana, Trello, Monday.com) that fits your business needs. These tools offer features like task assignments, progress tracking, and deadline alerts. Regular Updates: Keep your project management tool updated with all deadlines and use it to monitor progress regularly.

I believe in using a PM software even if you're a solopreneur. Once you start adding people to your team, things can get complicated and easily fall through the cracks. If everything runs through a PM software, you're less likely to lose track of important tasks. As a manager, a PM software also helps you gauge where your team or organization are in a simplified dashboard, and adjust accordingly. I have used Asana for years, but there are other software out there. I think as long as you use something, that's what matters.

Project Management Kanban Individual To Do List: todoist.com I find a need for both as I tend to lose small to-do items in the project management software. Having a simple neat easy checklist for my things helps a lot and the ability to make them auto-repeat at an interval makes it even better.

Invest time upfront so that you can fully immerse yourself in the software. Failing that, just start using it for one client or project, get the workflow figured out, then use that project as a template. Pick one with a user interface that you love, if you are able to choose. Implementation is always the bottleneck, but there is no point using any software if you hate it or do it halfway forever.

Prioritize Tasks: Use the Eisenhower Box or similar methods to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. Focused Work Sessions: Implement techniques like the Pomodoro Technique to maintain focus and productivity during work sessions.

Eat your Frog ?? first thing in the morning. Do the most important thing that has the biggest impact first. Everything else will be easy!

I don't avoid procrastination, it's a vital part of being a writer. It gives your brain time to work through stuff so you can write soemthing fantastic. As for distraction? Well, you could always lock yourself in a wardrobe with a laptop so you don't have the excuse of looking out of a window.

Procrastina??o: Atrasar para fazer outras tarefas, o que errado no campo profissional, fazer o que mais fácil o que, mas mais gosta. Na vida pessoal e escolha individual fazer o que mas gosta, na vida profissional e fazer o precisa ser feito, e o feito melhor que perfeito muito demorado. Distra??o: A maior do mundo s?o redes sociais infrutificas, que n?o seja voltado ao trabalho, como marketing digital, propec??o de clientes, neetworking, aprimoramento profisisonal e apredizado coorporativo. Procrastinar é o oposto de antecipar, acelerar, abreviar. O contrário de Distra??o: E mais que ter só aten??o, que ant?nimo da palavra, ser comprometido com resultado no mundo coorporativo, com ter senso de dono, vestir a camisa da empresa.

Procrastination can certainly make a stack of deadlines pile up. I have noticed that procrastination often stems from having too many complex tasks on a lengthy to-do list. Keep daily tasks sorted in order of urgency, limit the list to no more than 3-5, and break larger complex tasks into smaller step-by-step to make actions easier and execution easier. I also like to use the Pomodoro method, as tasks often expand and shrink depending on how long we allocate.

Mudan?as Emergências: "Os imprevistos" ! Improvisar é inovar e a ruptura do que já existe, para melhor processo da empresa imediatamente, para satisfa?ao dos clientes e parceiros. "Momento cruciais, uma mudan?a de postura em empresa grande é muito planejado, tem um estudo minusioso, muitas variáveis" Um pequeno negócio, pode mudar de ramo de atividade a qualquer momento, sem muitas varíaveis, aproveitando as oportunidades de mercado, e ter muito sucesso. Atendimento ao cliente: Em empresa grande no geral tem script e normas de atendimento, os imprevisto se resolve um pouco engessado, a empresa pequena tem a liberdade de mudar o atendimento a qualquer momento para satisfazer o cliente.

Definitely a “tickler” system of some kind, whether electronic program, calendar or old fashioned notecards! For short term reminders, use calendar.

Do everything calmly attitude is extremely important, when making changes both can affect everybody concerned. Make sure to keep your self hydrated, act promptly according to situation, always be prepared for a crisis where you have to leave in a hurry. Clothes, medication, identification whatever is or could happen in your life. Pen, paper, torch, radio, food. We should all know the drill by know, or have another always on hand or available where possible. If the team see the leader/boss not panicking it projects out to others. The calm personal touch, deep breathing and what ever helps yourself.

Do everything calmly attitude is extremely important, when making changes both can affect everybody concerned. Make sure to keep your self hydrated, act promptly according to situation, always be prepared for a crisis where you have to leave in a hurry. Clothes, medication, identification whatever is or could happen in your life. Pen, paper, torch, radio, food. We should all know the drill by know, or have another always on hand or available where possible. If the team see the leader/boss not panicking it projects out to others. The calm personal touch, deep breathing and what ever helps yourself.

We all face any of the above if you haven’t you will: 1- Have a mentor find one in your field 2- Read books related to the topic or Biographies, how successful people overcame adversity 3- Build a team that you can count on 4- Communication is key use technology GroupMe Zoom or other medium for updates, prevention & who to ask should emergency arises

Review and Reflect: Regularly review completed tasks and deadlines to identify areas for improvement. Foster a collaborative environment where team members can support each other in meeting deadlines. Provide your team with the training and tools they need to manage their time and tasks effectively. Encourage a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout, which can negatively impact productivity and the ability to meet deadlines. Implementing these strategies can help you and your team stay on top of deadlines, ensuring that your small business operates efficiently and continues to grow. Remember, the key is not just to work hard but also to work smart, using the right tools and techniques to manage your time and resources effectively.

Using OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) offers a structured approach to tracking deadlines in a small business. Setting clear, ambitious objectives aligned with the company's vision motivates the team. Key results provide measurable steps to gauge progress, offering real-time feedback and enabling quick adjustments. This framework fosters transparency, allowing everyone to understand priorities and how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Regular check-ins ensure accountability and keep projects on track. By breaking down goals into actionable parts, OKRs help in prioritizing tasks, optimizing resources, and achieving strategic outcomes efficiently.

Each years diary with the basics is handy to look back on quickly. If one has worked their way up or always been hands on when needed, having personal experience makes a big difference. Listening and communicating with others . Understanding those that you work with above or under helps to bring out the best in everybody. No place ever for bullies or liars

When planning, make a list of weekly achievable goals needed to meet the deadline completion date. Discuss slippages weekly and their implications. Pivot if required and change the plan to meet the deadline. Use a cloud based project management system to help you and the team. Before each virtual meeting discuss how everyone is ask if they had a good weekend and have a free conversation to build team camaraderie. Get people to speak freely and if someone is not joining in make sure to touch base with them on a one to one. Make sure to celebrate meeting key project milestones. Reward key players who work above and beyond to achieve the deadline and make sure the whole team nominates them. Keep stakeholders informed of progress.

Small tweaks to your project planning and tracking systems can make a huge difference. It’s rarely a static process so setting aside time alone or with your team on a quarterly or annual basis to review what is working, what is not working and new things you can try is invaluable.