We have talked about procrastination and how some of us wrestle with putting things off and trying to find the time to get things done in our home businesses, but we have not really talked about the fact that some people have just the opposite problem—they have a tendency to rush through things and try to get too much done. For those of us who actually work too fast, we can run into business difficulties when we are speeding through our tasks and contacts.
The problem with working too fast is that details can get overlooked, mistakes can get made, and, customers and clients can feel like they are not getting enough care and attention from us. This can actually be a very big deal and affect the outcome of our business. If customers and clients do not feel a personal connection with us, they are less likely to continue. Rushing through phone calls, sending incredibly brief e-mails, and giving off the vibe that we are busy, rushed people will really put off others who would like to do business with us. The lack of customer service will cause them to think that we don’t have time for their business and they will take that business elsewhere.
Working quickly is not a crime. In fact, it can be necessary for those of us who juggle many responsibilities and tasks—but going too quickly definitely increases the likelihood that we will make mistakes—financial and otherwise; and it can increase the chances of safety issues, injuries and accidents. If you find yourself getting in a lot of accidents or sustaining injuries that come from stumbling, spilling, and generally moving too fast, then it is definitely time to slow things down. Financial errors can be made and important details overlooked if we are trying to work too fast.
Finally, some things in business really do take patience and timing. By rushing through, we may be selling our businesses short and not giving relationships and business opportunities the time to grow and develop.
See Also: Creating Uninterrupted Time for Your Business