One thing that is all too often said in business is ”I just don’t have the time”. Whilst it may sound like an excuse, this really is the case for many people. Especially when it comes to business development.  

You may be happy with how your business is ticking and moving along. However, is there a niggling doubt in the back of your mind that perhaps you could be doing more?

If there is, then it is time to think about the ways that you can make time to really dedicate to business development and growing your business for the future.  

Do little bits every day 

Business development doesn’t always have to take all of your time. In fact, if you can plan in a small spot each and every day for these all-important tasks then all the better. For me, business development slots are best during the morning. Right after the initial rush. I even set aside time in my calendar so that I can really focus on what needs to be done.  If you book the time in then it is more likely that you will do it, rather thank think about it. Action is key!

Focus on the paths that are most likely to succeed 

When it comes to sales there are going to be things that you win and things that you lose. Whilst you shouldn’t have a quitters attitude when it comes to securing business for your future. You should definitely take the time to identify which paths are going to be most likely to succeed. If you are short on time and want to try and still achieve some growth, then it is a good idea to focus on those paths more than the others.  

Do things when you think of them 

Just remembered that you need to give someone a call? Don’t put it off until later, when you will no doubt forget it. Instead, make a slot to act on it right then and there. Later seems to be a time that never comes. So, if something is on your mind then chances are that it is definitely going to prove worthwhile doing it right at that moment in time.  

Use your resources to your advantage 

Delegation is hard in business, even if you have a to-do list that is rather frighteningly long. One thing that your business needs you to do more, is delegate. Think about the people that work within your company, what skills do they bring? Chances are that they have a key talent that you could then use to the advantage of your business. Not only is this going to be beneficial to your business development, but staff members also like to know that their talents are recognised and relied upon too. Or if you’re struggling with your own marketing and business development, outsource it to someone (like me – shameless plug) that can take this on for you and alleviate the pressure.

Be organised 

Organisation isn’t always fun, but it is important in business. Being organised makes things much easier to find and things that are easy to find are things that are going to be quicker to do. If you find that some of your tasks are a mess, then you won’t want to waste time untangling them and making sense. Instead you are much more likely to push them to the side for another day.

Develop your business development skills 

One reason that many people put off business development is because they don’t feel their skills and knowledge are up to date or where they need to be. One thing that you can do to make sure that you put more of an effort into business development is to learn more and develop the skills that you need to be successful in your efforts. Nervous about networking? Go on a course to find out the right etiquette, not sure how to make a successful sales call or start a conversation, ask for help by talking to someone more senior or reaching out to your network for tips and tricks – I’ve found that people are only to happy to help!

Without business development your business is unlikely to ever grow, so it is definitely something that you should be making an effort to push forward each and every day. Even if you don’t think that you have the time.   

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