While no one is perfectly efficient, it can be disheartening when we watch our days go by with little to show for them. This is especially true for business owners, whose livelihoods depend on the ability of themselves and their employees to get things done from day to day. In the event that productivity is lost due to poor time management, businesses suffer from high labor costs that go nowhere, declining revenues, and diminished sense of direction.

Set a firm direction: People need a clear sense of direction to work at their most effective level. A lack of direction will lead them to wonder aimlessly, not knowing what to do next, and question the value of their work. Strong leadership is necessary here, as the ability to get others to fall into your frame is a primary component of getting them to accept your goals as their own.

Eliminate distractions: There are all sorts of things that go on during the workday that has nothing to do with work and serves only to keep employees distracted and aloof. If your workers' attentions are constantly somewhere other than on their jobs, find some way to eliminate the offending stimuli.

Focus on productive tasks: The 80/20 principle applies here. In any organization, approximately 20 percent of the work will yield 80 percent of the results. Therefore, focus on the 20 percent of work that actually yields results, and either delegate or outsource the rest. While the 80 percent of low-productivity work may be necessary to keep the company running, it's also usually the sort of work that can easily be passed to people with low qualifications or contracted out to a specialist.

Fire troublemaking employees: There are certain types of people who don't fit into your company no matter how hard they try. They may stir up drama between the other employees, be terrible supervisors, or simply serve as a distraction. Either way, get rid of them before they cause more damage than they already have. The business world is hard enough due to outside competition; don't let your own employees eat away at your company from within.

Have an agenda every day: Don't start any day without a clear picture of what you hope for the business to accomplish that day. It's a luxury of children and retired people to be able to start a day with only a hazy idea of what they hope to do. Without a clear agenda, your employees will simply meander about their work until it's time to go home. Instead, make it clear to them from the very beginning.

If you take these steps early, before time-wasting becomes an accepted part of your business culture, you should have few problems with getting employees to fall in line. It ultimately comes down to the level of control that you have over your own company. If the employees don't respect your authority and treat your orders as mere suggestions, then you will have a hard time getting things done. As the owner, you have the right and responsibility to take the reins and drive your company forward.

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