Simon PookIt’s rare to hear a tradesperson complaining about having too much work. However, it does happen, and it can be very tricky to keep track of everything. This is especially true if you’re working on multiple jobs simultaneously. If you feel like you’re juggling too many things, we’ve got a few tips to help you restore some order to your working life and get things back under control.
1. Stay organised
It’s important to make sure that you’re keeping track of all of your jobs. There are several different ways you could do this. For example, you could record details of your jobs using a simple pen and paper to-do list, or use online tools like Evernote, Basecamp or Asana. If there are multiple people in your team that need access to this data, consider using an online service which will sync between devices. This way, everybody knows they’re on the same page.
Devoting time to staying organised will save you time and hassle in the long run. It means you’ll have all the right information to hand whenever you need it.
2. Keep notes
It’s always essential to keep detailed notes, but it’s especially vital when you’re very busy. You could use a pen and paper system to keep organised. However, with the Quotatis Smart App, you can write notes directly onto leads so they’ll be stored directly with all the rest of the customers’ details. Having notes is important, and you’ll find that it saves you time when you’re filling in paperwork.
3. Plan your time effectively
When you’re busy with multiple jobs, it’s important to plan your time to be sure that you’re making the most of the day. It can be tempting to drop everything to focus on your current jobs, but you should try and make time to keep working leads and quoting for future work. You don’t want to finish your current batch and have nothing lined up! Time spent planning will save you time in the long run. If you’re in the area, try and schedule a nearby quote to minimise travel time.
4. Check quality
When you’re busy it can be easy to let the quality of your work or communication slip. It’s important to stay professional and keep your usual high standard, though. A mistake could be very costly. It’s better to politely explain to a customer that you’re very busy than to rush a job and have poor feedback damage your hard earned reputation.
5. Communicate effectively
Similarly, make sure that you always communicate effectively and manage your customer’s expectations. Be clear about the start and finish dates for work, and politely inform customers that you’re in a busy period. Don’t use this as an excuse to not communicate properly, but you’ll find customers will give you the benefit of the doubt if you let you them know that you’re very busy and it may take you longer than normal to reply.
6. Take a break
Nobody can keep up a manic pace forever. It’s really important to take a break and refocus once in a while. You may find that taking a break lets you see the bigger picture, and you can find an exciting new opportunity for your business!
Employing these tips will make working multiple jobs simultaneously a lot less stressful. Tweet us @quotatispro if you’ve got any other tips for staying on top of multiple jobs at the same time.
Emily Rivers
