3 Ways to Make Your Business More Efficient Most inefficiencies at work come down to a lack of clarity. Here's how to address the three main culprits.

By Lindsay LaVine

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

It's no secret the workplace is changing. How we work, collaborate, and communicate with each other is increasingly shaped by technology and tools to increase productivity. But what happens when we get bogged down with e-mails and move away from the actual work?

Last week, thought leaders from all over the country gathered at Chicago Ideas Week to discuss the future of work, and how we can do it better. Here's how to cut the inefficiencies in your office.

"The crux of inefficiencies of work come down to lack of clarity," says Justin Rosenstein, co-founder of San Francisco-based collaborative software company Asana. When 70 to 80 percent of your day is spent doing work about work (multiple meetings, endless e-mails) instead of doing actual work, that's a problem, he says.

Rosenstein, formerly of Facebook and Google, and Asana co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, created a solution that increases productivity by centralizing tasks. Companies like Pinterest, Dropbox and Uber have embraced Asana. Rosenstein says three key principles around clarity can help businesses become more efficient. They are: clarity of purpose, clarity of plan, and clarity of responsibility.

Related: 3 Tools to Simplify Your Digital World

#insert related here#

1. Clarity of Purpose
When employees know the larger context, they can make better decisions and better prioritize, says Rosenstein. "Clarity of purpose gives us the information we need to do our best work," he says. Lack of clarity may lead to a lack of motivation.

2. Clarity of Plan
If the team isn't clear on the plan, there's lots of confusion and everyone's wondering what will happen next. At Asana, when they start a project, they ask: What are all the steps needed to reach our goal? Team members can add steps to a single, shared list, the list is always up-to-date, and everyone has access to it. Of course, steps may be modified as the project progresses, but Rosenstein says the knowledge that nothing will fall between the cracks creates calm and comfort among team members. Everyone knows when each step will happen and what's next.

3. Clarity of Responsibility
On a big project, it's bound to happen: one person thinks someone else was doing a task and nobody ends up doing it, or more than one person does it and you wind up with a duplication of efforts. With a productivity tool, this won't happen. Everyone on the team goes through the list and signs up for a task – either because it's their passion or they're taking one for the team, Rosenstein says.

"The emergent effect of all three is everyone knows what they're doing, when they're doing it, and why," Rosenstein says.

Related: 13 Tech CEOs and Founders Reveal Their Productivity Secrets

Wavy Line

Lindsay LaVine is a Chicago-based freelance writer who has worked for NBC and CNN.

Editor's Pick

A Father Decided to Change When He Was in Prison on His Son's Birthday. Now His Nonprofit Helps Formerly Incarcerated Applicants Land 6-Figure Jobs.
Lock
A Teen Turned His Roblox Side Hustle Into a Multimillion-Dollar Company — Now He's Working With Karlie Kloss and Elton John
Lock
3 Mundane Tasks You Should Automate to Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff
Lock
The Next Time Someone Intimidates You, Here's What You Should Do
5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health and Regulate Your Nervous System for Sustainable Success

Related Topics

Business News

After Being Told They Could Work From Home Forever, Employees Made Major Life Changes. Then, a New CEO Ordered Them Back to the Office.

Farmers Group CEO Raul Vargas is facing backlash for the change, but he says being in the office brings more "collaboration" and "innovation."

Business Ideas

The 13 Best Jobs for People With ADHD

Want to find the perfect profession as a person with ADHD? Check out this review of the best jobs for people with ADHD if you need ideas.

Business News

Pete Davidson Says He's 'Figuring It Out' After Buying a $280,000 Boat While 'Very Stoned'

The former "Saturday Night Live" star purchased a used Staten Island Ferry with Colin Jost in January 2022.

Starting a Business

Free Event | June 27: Get the Answers to Your Solopreneur Challenges

Running a one person business is challenging, but we're here to help you. Tune into our video series, Solopreneur Office Hours, as our expert, Terry Rice, answers your most pressing questions.

Business News

Hedge Fund Pays NYC Interns $20,000 a Month on Average, Sent to Lavish Palm Beach Kickoff

Citadel is known for its over-the-top parties and company retreats.