{"id":15126,"date":"2018-10-03T08:00:06","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T12:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/honeybook.site.strattic.io\/?p=15126"},"modified":"2022-07-14T15:25:24","modified_gmt":"2022-07-14T22:25:24","slug":"work-more-efficiently-advice-from-a-workflow-guru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/work-more-efficiently-advice-from-a-workflow-guru","title":{"rendered":"Work More Efficiently: Advice from a \u201cWorkflow Guru\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by: Sarah Sharp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I worked in the media business for more than two decades, and during my time as production director at Vogue<\/em> and managing editor at Harper\u2019s Bazaar,<\/em> I gained a reputation as a \u201cworkflow guru.\u201d I was brought in to create systems for new magazines, to consult on workflows at historic titles, and to find inefficiencies in budget and staffing across the board.<\/p>\n

In my more recent journey as a creative entrepreneur, I have often found that those hard-won workflow lessons are still helpful to me now\u2014and they sometimes go against conventional wisdom.<\/p>\n

1. That shiny new business app might not be the best choice for you and your work efficiency.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I have tried a handful of times to ditch my old-fashioned to-do lists for tech-based lists. Each time it seems like a no-brainer\u2014download an app and have my to-do lists on all my devices anywhere I go. Friends swear by apps such as Wunderlist and Todoist, and their enthusiasm was contagious. But I learned through experience that digital list-making simply isn\u2019t for me. I found myself grabbing a pen and scrap of paper every time I thought of something new, or printing out my lists so I could have the satisfaction of physically crossing off completed items. (Come on, don\u2019t you love that?)<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s task management software, how you file invoices, or whether you use an online meeting scheduler<\/a> or email automation, the best system for you is the one you will actually use!<\/p>\n

The bottom line: A system only works if it works for you<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Just because a colleague works one way doesn\u2019t mean you have to. <\/strong><\/h2>\n

You differentiate your creative work from others by your style, services, personality\u2014and your systems may reflect that.<\/p>\n

For example, say that your fellow photographer sends out a 3-page questionnaire to new clients. However, if you find that delayed turnaround times for that are putting a kink in your workflow, you may want to consider a different route on how to become more efficient. Perhaps you\u2019ll choose to read key questions to a client over the phone and jot down their answers instead. This might take a few minutes longer, but in addition to the satisfaction that, yes, you got the answers you need<\/em>, you\u2019ll also benefit from hearing the inflection in their voice when they give some important opinions.<\/p>\n

Can you think of other parts of your process that differ from, say, your mentor\u2019s? That\u2019s more than okay\u2014always remember that your systems should reflect what you<\/em> do.<\/p>\n

The bottom line: Evaluate your systems based on your experience, not others\u2019 experiences.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. It\u2019s better to record your process as<\/em> you are working.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Okay, I admit that this one sucks. No one wants to interrupt their work to jot down what they just did every few moments. As a creative entrepreneur, I get this: You\u2019re in the flow, creating, letting all that right-brain mojo flow\u2026who wants to switch to left-brain thinking to take utilitarian notes?<\/p>\n

I speak from experience, though, when I say that it\u2019s much better to record your process while in the midst of it:<\/p>\n