10 productivity tips for consultants

Does it feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Consultants are often extremely busy, with large workloads and high expectations on their shoulders. Finding ways to increase your consulting productivity could be the key to staying on top of your work and keeping clients happy.

Here are ten ways for consultants to work smarter, improve efficiency, and streamline their business operations.

1. Plan your time wisely

Good time management is essential for consultants. With so much to do every day, planning your week (and month) can help you efficiently tackle your work and meet deadlines.

Calendar apps are a great tool for busy consultants. You can use them to schedule client meetings and calls rather than waste time hoping to catch someone for an impromptu catch-up. You can also carve out “focus hours” where you can work free from distraction.

Also, think about when you work best. You might be more productive in the morning, making afternoons a better time to schedule client meetings. Planning your time in a way that suits your working style and personality could lead to some quick results!

2. Set clear goals for your day or week

You’ve got a lot to do, but what are your priorities? Improve your efficiency by focusing on your goals each day or week. Setting clear goals for what you want to achieve can help you tackle what’s most important.

Be as detailed as possible when setting goals: Instead of simply putting “complete client proposal” on your list, break it down into smaller, specific chunks of work. It might be more efficient to research on Monday, write the proposal on Tuesday, review your work on Wednesday, and so on. Instead of getting overwhelmed by one large, undefined task, you may find it easier to tackle smaller portions one at a time.

3. Avoid online disruptions

Online distractions can quickly kill a consultant’s productivity. The internet is designed to keep you engaged, so finding ways to break its spell is essential.

Improve your efficiency by disconnecting as much as possible during work hours. Turn off social media app notifications and unsubscribe from unnecessary emails. During certain times of the day, consider putting your phone on silent and logging out of your email. If you find a particular website too tempting, it might help to temporarily block it so it’s harder to visit.

4. Clean your desk

A messy workspace could be dragging down your productivity. A clean desk can mentally prepare you for work by creating an ordered and calm environment.

A cluttered desk may be taking your attention away from your work in more ways than one. You might be tempted to procrastinate by cleaning up, or you may waste time shifting through paperwork looking for important documents.

5. Focus on one task at a time

Multitasking is not always a good time management strategy for consultants. You often need to focus your complete attention on a task so you don’t miss something important.

“Single-tasking”—focusing on one task at a time—could help you boost your consulting productivity. For example, it may be helpful to pause other activities during client meetings. Multitasking could cause you to miss important details. You may also be caught unprepared to answer questions because you were not fully paying attention to the conversation.

6. Make the most of your commute

Do you commute to an office or to and from client meetings? You may be able to use this time to your advantage!

Consider ways to make the most of your commute. If you use public transportation, you might be able to get some work done while someone else does the driving. Commuting by car could be a great time to listen to audiobooks or industry podcasts that help you stay on top of trends and best practices in your field.

7. Use technology to your advantage

Technology can cause distractions, but it can also benefit your consulting business. Using online and software tools to your advantage could help you find extra time in your day for more pressing tasks.

There are hundreds of ways for consultants to use technology. Scheduling and calendar management, bookkeeping, communication, and content design are just a few areas where apps and software might make your job easier. Many are free to use, though you may consider paid versions for extra features or greater customization.

8. Delegate tasks

You’ve tried the above tips to improve your efficiency at work, but there still don’t seem to be enough hours in the day. It might be time to consider hiring some help!

Delegating tasks to others could free up your time for more consulting work. If you cannot afford a full-time employee, hiring a freelance admin assistant, bookkeeper, customer service rep, or marketing pro might be an option. Their expertise may also provide you with valuable insights that improve your business operations.

If you have too much consulting work to handle, it may be time to consider hiring a consulting contractor. A consultant working on behalf of your business allows you to take on more or larger clients and projects than you can handle on your own.

9. Protect yourself with consulting insurance

Mistakes happen, even to the most careful consultants. If an error, miscommunication, or unhappy client leads to a lawsuit, you could lose money and time defending yourself and setting things right.

Professional Liability, a type of consulting insurance, protects your business against claims of negligence, misrepresentation or mistake, as well as document or paperwork errors. It helps cover the cost of legal fees, so you can pay someone to handle the lawsuit while you focus on running your business.

10. Get covered with BizInsure

Sold on the idea of Professional Liability insurance but worried finding a policy will eat into your productivity? Don’t worry! BizInsure has made it fast and simple to buy consulting insurance online or over the phone.

In as little as 10 minutes, you can compare Professional Liability policies from top-rated insurers that are tailored to consultants. You can also get quotes for other types of consulting insurance at the same time, giving you important peace of mind.

Compare free quotes and get instant coverage today!