

Things can get pretty hectic when running a business. It’s tough trying to keep up with all the tasks, long to-do lists and managing your people all at the same time. In today's fast-paced business environment, productivity is the key to business success. As a business owner, manager, or team leader, it can be overwhelming trying to wear all the hats. But in trying to do everything, you often end up getting nothing done.
Let’s face it, there aren’t nearly enough hours in a day to do everything yourself. But there's a simple and better way to get it all done, prioritise and smash your goals and it’s called the EDA method.
This method might just be the best productivity framework any business can follow to beat time and crush goals. To ensure effective time management across the hundred and one items on your to-do list, you need to start Eliminating, Delegating and Automating. Here’s how:
The first step in the framework is to look at tasks that are not critical to your goals, and then simply get rid of them. These could be tasks that are time-consuming, and don't create any significant value for your customers or your business in general. By eliminating these non-essential tasks, you free up your time and energy to focus on tasks that are more important.
To begin the elimination process, start by creating a list of all your daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Next, evaluate each task and weigh up whether they are necessary.
Ask yourself the following questions:
For example, if your goal is better marketing, take a look at what’s working and what’s not working. Most platforms or channels are able to show you data, so if you find that you’re putting in a lot of time and effort on a marketing channel that’s not working, feel free to bin it.
The next step is to give out tasks to other team members that may be better suited to that task. Delegating tasks allows you to focus on more important tasks while your team members develop new skills and crush their own career goals. However, it’s important that you delegate tasks so that you're setting your team up for success and tasks are completed to a good standard.
So how do you delegate specific tasks to other team members? Take a step back and ask yourself:
For example, if you’re not exactly sure how to run Facebook Ads but you need leads coming in, it might be a great idea to hand over those tasks to someone better suited or more knowledgeable. Doing this saves you the hassle of wasting hours and hours trying to figure it out on your own, and gives someone else who knows a thing or two an opportunity for career progression!
The final step in the framework is to automate tasks that can be, well, automated. Automation allows you to complete repetitive tasks more efficiently and frees up your time and energy to focus on more critical tasks. Additionally, automation can reduce the risk of human errors and improve the overall quality of your work. Automation is all about finding more time to spend on tasks that need creativity and critical thinking, and remove as much of the rote-work as possible.
To automate tasks, start by identifying tasks that are repetitive or can be completed using technology. Consider the following factors:
Once you have identified tasks that can be automated, research software or tools that can help you automate the task. Consider factors such as ease of use, compatibility with your existing tools, and cost.
For example: ChatGPT has revolutionised the automation aspects of so many businesses. This tool has incredible potential for streamlining so many systems, processes and activities within a business. And it's free!
Read How to Leverage AI and Boost your ROI in 2023
Once you have selected the most appropriate software or tool, integrate it into your workflow and ensure that your team members are trained on how to use it. As with rolling out any new software, tool or process, make sure you make appropriate change management considerations so that the new introduction is fully embraced.
The EDA method requires change within processes and management ways, and we know that kind of change is scary. Yet, there is so much to look forward to with the right application. Whether you’re trying to manage your distribution processes, generate better leads with Google Ads, or write better content for SEO, the EDA Method works for quite literally anything and anyone in any job.
By focusing on important tasks and delegating or automating other essential tasks, you can increase your productivity and accomplish more in less time. Kick bad habits and change your to-do list to a to-done list with the best productivity framework you should be following!
By automating tasks with AI technology and other productivity tools, you can reduce the risk of errors and improve the overall quality of your work. Tick off your long list of action items faster, free up more of your available time, and get better focus into deep work, to produce your best work.
Delegating tasks to the right team members provides them with opportunities to develop new skills and progress in their careers. Most humans want the opportunity to grow and progress; they want to learn and they want to be challenged. Ensure you're giving them what they need to be able to do that within your business.
Putting in place the best productivity systems, ensures that your team members are working together towards the short-term and long-term goals of your business. You can crush complex tasks together and still have time and energy for those urgent tasks, that we all know, can just pop out of nowhere.
With good internal processes, businesses can be better prepared for the growth driven by effective digital marketing campaigns. Marketing affects everything you do, from how you lead your team, to how you evaluate your finances, and more.
If you have seen our Business Growth Map here at Dilate, you'll know to what extent marketing affects the internal to-do lists for each and every desired outcome. To understand what we mean by this, check out our previous blog where we’ve mapped out how to create a good business growth strategy.
So get rid of the chaos and start taking control! Make the most out of your day, energy and your people so you can focus on the things that really matter. Want to start seeing some serious business growth? Let's talk.
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