Written by: Tuesday P. Brooks, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Profitress (noun): /prof-it-res/. A woman business owner characterized by her tenacity in driving the growth and profitability of her company through strategic decisions and sound financial management.
This three-part series explores the idea that cultivating certain habits can help women business owners make good decisions, ultimately driving sales and a more profitable business. Naturally, there are quite a few habits that can potentially help us all succeed professionally. To make them easier to digest, each article in this series covers a different category: professionalism and organization, physical and mental well-being, and social connections and communication.
This first article highlights seven invaluable habits that fall under the umbrella of professionalism and organization. Are you ready to find out what they are? Let’s get started!
Habit 1: You open your mail
This sounds so simple but is, in fact, vitally important. Opening your mail on a regular basis ensures that you promptly respond to time-sensitive communications, legal documents, and tax-related notices from regulatory authorities so you stay in compliance and avoid penalties.
Many invoices, bills, and financial statements are also delivered via mail, as well as communications from customers. Retrieving and looking at your mail daily is a great habit to establish – it will help you stay on top of your financial obligations, avoid late payment fees, and maintain your customer relationships, all of which directly impact your bottom line!
Habit 2: You respond to emails
Sometimes it can be tempting to put off checking emails because other tasks seem more pressing. In reality, managing your email is a critical component of running a profitable business. How so? Opening and responding to your email facilitates an efficient flow of information between you and your clients, prospects, colleagues, and others. It also helps prevent delays and misunderstandings.
Plus, a lot of valuable opportunities come via email such a business proposals, partnership offers, and invitations to industry events. If you aren’t looking at your emails and replying quickly, you’ll likely miss out on them. As a reminder, profitability (as well as luck) happens when preparation meets opportunity!
Habit 3: You file important documents
Another essential habit of a profitable business owner? Maintaining a well-organized electronic filing system. Having one makes it much easier to stay in legal and regulatory compliance, reach decisions, mitigate risk, and strengthen relationships with vendors and customers alike.
Knowing where important documents are puts the information you need right at your fingertips. Whether you require it to strategize, fulfill the requests of clients or other entities, recover from a disaster, or collaborate with your teams, it’s best to know right where everything is.
Habit 4: You don’t procrastinate
As a small business owner, it’s a good idea to do things as they come up for several reasons. For one, being proactive and not waiting around will help you seize the opportunities that often arise in a fast-paced business environment. This can include time-sensitive market trends and potential partnerships. In these instances, acting slowly will likely cost you.
Additionally, using effective time management techniques rather than procrastinating will likely make you (and your teams) more productive, efficient, and less stressed.
You should also consider how procrastination can negatively impact your reputation. When clients or partners experience delays and missed deadlines, this can erode trust and confidence in your business, making you appear unprofessional and unreliable. To succeed in the business world, you simply must meet your deadlines and deliver on your promises!
Habit 5: You stick to a consistent work schedule
While work/life balance is arguably a myth, creating a predictable work routine is still helpful. Perhaps most importantly, it will help you get more done, manage your time better, and add structure to your day, in turn making it easier to plan, prioritize, and set goals. You’ll be better able to track your progress, set realistic deadlines, and achieve long-term objectives.
It should also be noted that this consistency on your part will also improve your reputation with clients and collaborators. They’ll be more apt to see you as organized, committed, and reliable when they can count on you being around for a set number of hours every workday.
Habit 6: You keep your workspace clean and uncluttered
If you’re like most, keeping a neat and tidy office is mentally beneficial. With fewer distractions around, you’ll probably feel more focused and motivated, as well as relaxed and creative, which can spur innovative thought. Moreover, when your desk is organized and clean, you can quickly find what you need, making you more efficient and productive.
Maintaining a clean, uncluttered, and organized workspace will ultimately lower your stress and promote your well-being – both of which come in handy when you’re trying to run a profitable business!
Habit 7: You stay current with technology
Last but not least, it’s critical to make it a habit to stay abreast of new technologies. Why? To increase the odds your business maintains its competitive edge in today’s marketplace. Leveraging the latest tools and digital solutions will make it possible for you to streamline your operations, optimize workflows, and outperform competitors.
Furthermore, embracing up-and-coming technology may very well enable you to expand your company’s reach, tap into new markets, innovate, and improve your customer experience. And that’s not even mentioning all the advancements in data analytics that can (and should!) drive your decision-making processes. The main takeaway? Don’t shy away from trying new ways of doing things – stay adaptable.
So there you have it – seven habits that will help you dominate in the areas of organization and professionalism. In the next two articles of this series, you’ll learn about the physical, mental, and social habits of women who are serious about succeeding in business. Until then, consider implementing some (or all) of the recommended habits from above and discover how they can literally transform your professional life. While they may seem simple on the surface, all together these habits are a powerful force for change!
Tuesday P. Brooks, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Tuesday P. Brooks, MBA is a business owner, educator, trusted tax & accounting advisor, and fierce champion of small business. Unwaveringly devoted to financial fluency Tuesday’s mission is to accelerate the profitability of financially-sound, women-led companies that employ across the U.S. As such, she works tirelessly helping women founders gain the confidence to take a leap of faith towards growth so they can tap further into their joy of business ownership more easily.
