Stressed out....workload

[mad matty]

Hi all, I am pretty sure it happens to everyone from time to time!

How do you personally cope with high workloads with no margin for taking longer than it should, the phone doesn't stop ringing, and nearly every job you look at they say yes!

Just feeling the pressure at the moment.

Its good to be busy.....but!

personal ways of coping much appreciated.

Cheers Matty

[silky fox]

Do you need a hand mate?

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Hi all, I am pretty sure it happens to everyone from time to time!

 

How do you personally cope with high workloads with no margin for taking longer than it should, the phone doesn't stop ringing, and nearly every job you look at they say yes!

 

Just feeling the pressure at the moment.

 

Its good to be busy.....but!

 

personal ways of coping much appreciated.

 

Cheers Matty

 

 

It may seem counter intuitive Matty, but sometimes you have to say "No" or at the very least, give the customer a long lead time before being available to start (caveated with - if you want quality, it takes time, if you want quick & cheap you'll have to live with the consequences)

 

I find most customers have been "thinking" about getting that work done for years, they call and want a quote immediately, take 6 months to consider the price, then call today and want the job done tomorrow!

 

I tend to say, take as long as you need to consider the work spec / quote, but phone as soon as you can and we'll put it in the diary. Once it's in the diary it's fixed but be prepared for a 1-3.month lead time from confirmation call to start date.

 

I lost several jobs between Jan-Mar because I simply couldn't get back to them in good time. Sure it feels bad but what's the alternative - drive yourself into the ground or take on more staff - I don't want to do either at the moment.

[mad matty]

Thanks for the offer silky...Its more just dealing with all the organising,paperwork and doing the job. Wife does as much secretarial work as she can.

maybe I just should not winge and man up.

Cheers Matty.

p.s. If it does get to much i will send you a p.m.

[RobRainford]

As others have said, say they are going to have to wait as you have ongoing projects and you can get them in as soon as possible. Whether you give a confirmed date or provisional and confirm it closer to the time when you can guarantee the day is up to you.

 

It's a good feeling knowing I've got a certain amount of work booked in ahead of me.

[morten]

Hi all, I am pretty sure it happens to everyone from time to time!

How do you personally cope with high workloads with no margin for taking longer than it should, the phone doesn't stop ringing, and nearly every job you look at they say yes!

Just feeling the pressure at the moment.

Its good to be busy.....but!

personal ways of coping much appreciated.

Cheers Matty

 

Start raising your prices - you'll end up earning more by working less.

 

As a rule of thumb, if more than 75-80% of your quotations are accepted, you are pricing too low.

 

Others may disagree...

[darrin]

Honesty the best policy, give some of your jobs away.

[crackoff]

Certainly don't allow yourself to rush in order to try and fit everything in, that will just stress you more, and lead to you not concentrating at critical times, make mistakes, and may lead to an accident.

Better to turn some work away, or just tell the customer that there will be a long lead time before you get to them. No probs giving them a set date so they know when, but give yourself the time you need to be able to cope.

 

Sent from my HTC One using Arbtalk mobile thingamybob.

[mad matty]

Just thought I would catch up on this post as it is t-break....thank you for your responses I don't like to let anyone down, but I think Robs and Kevins posts are probably a good way of handling it.

Cheers Matty:blushing:

Edited March 24, 2014 by mad matty

[mad matty]

Cheers Crackoff.