How do you keep yourself organized?
Notebook? OneNote? Google Docs? Many leaders struggle with keeping things on track because they wear multiple hats. There are too many tasks and people to oversee.
Today, I want you to think about how you manage your responsibilities as a manager, business leader, or solopreneur.
To poke you in the right direction, here are some ideas that could help you have an overview, delegate tasks, and get a bit more sleep.
Do you keep your notes and plans in OneNote or Excel? I used to do the same. Yet, it can get messy. If you have ever done a Gantt chart in Excel then you know it might be super annoying to update the formulas and give access to others.
Here are some alternatives that can help you keep everything in order.
PM Tools worth checking
Trello: https://trello.com
If you have a project to organize, look for a free and simple solution. Grab Trello.
Trello works with boards (big picture of what needs to be done), lists (different stages of tasks To Do, Doing, Done - no more micromanagement!), and cards (tasks and ideas to get the job done)
Pricing: For simple projects, it’s free for the whole team; then 5 USD per user
Asana: https://asana.com/
80% of Fortune 100 companies (e.g., Amazon, P&G, Johnson & Johnson) use Asana. Its adoption is simple (offers more than 100 product integrations such as Slack, Vimeo, etc.), it works well for team collaboration, and it’s goal-driven.
Pricing: Free for individuals or teams just getting started with project management.
Monday: https://monday.com/
This cloud-based tool is a project management system that helps you and your team complete projects efficiently. It combines apps and integrations, so you can build a system that works for you and your team.
Big clients including Coca-Cola, Lionsgate, and Universal Studios work with monday.com.
Pricing: Free for up to 2 seats. For individuals looking to keep track of their work.
Team building and communication
When you’re building a team, you need to know who you need and have a system for communication and collaboration.
Virtual Assistant Services
For a high temporary workload or ad hoc services, you may want to delegate some tasks to freelancers or virtual assistants.
You can find a hand on Upwork, Fiverr, or TaskRabbit
Do not drown in administrative tasks, graphic design, or content creation when you can focus on business and delegate the rest.
Communication Tools
You need to talk somehow. My favorite free tools are Slack and Discord (leadink newly also uses Discord to be in touch with premium subscribers).
Learning and Skill Development
You and your team should not sit still. Explore many courses that are offered for free or for a small fee. The key is encouraging everyone to learn what they are interested in and upskill themselves.
Check: Udemy, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning
Online reach
Online space is a bit of a jungle if you do not have a system and automation in place. ALWAYS automate what you can. Otherwise, you’ll be a slave to the internet and social media.
Email Marketing
Automate your email marketing campaigns to nurture leads, engage with customers, and drive conversions. Create personalized email sequences that can run on autopilot. It is easy and efficient. Use:
Mailchimp (free up to 1 audience, 500 contacts, max. 1,000 emails)
ConvertKit (free for 1,000 subscribers)
Mailer lite (free for 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails monthly)
Social Media Management
Schedule posts in advance, monitor engagement and analyze performance across multiple social media platforms. These tools help maintain a consistent online presence without being tied to your computer.
Buffer (schedule 10 posts for up to 3 channels)
Hootsuite (30-day free trial)
Later (14-day free trial)
TL;DR
You can significantly benefit from leveraging digital tools for delegation and efficiency. These tools not only save time but also enhance the quality of work and allow you and your team to focus on what truly matters: growing businesses.
Tailor your toolset to your specific needs, and watch your productivity soar while achieving a better work-life balance.