10 Time Saving Tips for IT Directors

Time, it’s the only asset we can’t seem to get more of. And in the world of IT, you’d probably pay good money to get a little bit more of it. From outages to repairs and system updates and upgrades, the list of tasks can seem endless. Although you may think there’s no way to simplify the situation, there are some timesaving solutions IT Directors can implement to take some pressure of the clock.

Tip #1: Set One Major Goal a Day

Duncan Bannatyne, the Chairman of Bannatyne says, “One major goal at a time is enough. If you try to do too many things at once, you’ll end up failing on several fronts. I try to focus on big decisions and eliminate trivialities.” Start the day putting energy and focus on a single goal, and if you succeed at that, move on to the next project or goal on your list.

Tip #2: Keep Lists

Implement a goal list with that first major goal at the top and the other tasks descending in priority going down the list. After you accomplish your one major goal for the day, you can then establish a new goal based on your prioritized list.

Tip #3: Take Work With You

If your business has not implemented options for working remotely or BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), they likely will be soon. Having instant access to email, calendar, voicemail, chat and conferencing can provide a significant increase in productivity. Answering a quick email in the evening on your phone can save you valuable time you can dedicate to another task the following day.

Tip #4: Invest in Robust Equipment

In the world of business IT, you often get what you pay for. Invest in quality devices, software and phone systems. VoIP phone systems like Mitel Sky can save you time by reducing the amount of equipment needing service as well as phone line headaches from transferring or adding users and lines. Additionally, modern phone systems come with enhanced time-saving features and functionality that can dramatically increase productivity and performance.

Tip #5: Schedule Shorter Meetings

The average meeting time is 30 minutes, but typically, the majority of the conversations can probably be trimmed down to 15 minutes. What you schedule for a meeting is typically what people will take, despite how productive it may be. Keep the meeting tight to keep it focused and fast.

Tip #6: Don’t Allow Interruptions

Block things like Facebook and Twitter unless you are required to use them for the business. According to new data, an average social media user will spend about 28% of their time online dedicated to social media. That’s a lot of time that probably doesn’t have anything to do with the items on your task list.

Tip #7: Use the Cloud

Create convenience for yourself! Get access to the tools, documents and items you need from anywhere in the cloud. It’s safe and easy-to-use and can save you time running back and forth to computers to get the information you need to get the repair or upgrade completed correctly.

Tip #8: Schedule Email Time

Much like social media, email can be a time hog. Although somewhat of a necessary evil, it helps to schedule a time frame you will focus on it before moving on to the next project. Avoid the urge to respond instantly to an email as it breaks concentration from the task at hand.

Tip #9: Use Project Management Tools

Keep things organized with a project management platform like Basecamp, so your information stays organized and everyone is easily connected and engaged with project updates.

Tip #10: Keep Good Connections

The internet runs our businesses today, so your connection needs to be reliable and fast. Investing in an Optical LAN eliminates the need for engineers to have to “open PORTs” across multiple devices just to add a device or users. Because an Optical LAN has a single-mode fiber, distance limitations are enhanced, making it no longer necessary for large corporations to have multiple devices staggered across various locations along or additional electricity to run those devices.

Although these tips may help save time and improve your productivity, keep your expectations realistic, because 20% of your conversations, thoughts, and actions produce 80% of your results.