Shivani is the author of Passion @ Work and Business GPS, producer of the Meditation for Busy People CD, an international speaker, Fairfax small business columnist and was the presenter of Risking it All, a series about small business on SBS Television. Here, she shares her top ten tips to clear away the cobwebs from your small business.

Spring is a traditional time to tackle tough cleaning projects at home. It is also a good time to clean up your business.

I'm not just talking about cleaning up your work space to be more organised and productive. Consider looking at cleaning up your processes and your mind. Whether you work in an office or at home, the following tips will help put the feather duster through your business so you can spring into the quarter leading up to Christmas.

Tip 1: Make sure you are working on your business and not just in it. Review your business plan and take some time to look forward. Remember that it is a living document, not something that is reviewed once a year. Consider the actions you are scheduled to undertake before the end of 2008 and allocate time in your diary to make these things happen. You may need to discuss the plan with other members of your team and update items. This will help you keep 'on top' of the planning process.

Tip 2: Tidy up time management. Go back and look at your diary for the past four weeks. Do a quick evaluation of how you could make your time more effective. Can you make one small change as a result of this exercise? For example, work out whether or not there is a regular meeting (face to face or phone) that you do, that is no longer giving you clear outcomes. Work out a way to let that go! We form habits around meetings that we do not challenge. Spring cleaning ineffective meetings is a great way to get more organised and have more time for things that matter to the success of your business.

Tip 3: Look at the output of your employees. Get them to measure how they are managing their time over a week and come up with one idea of something they can ‘delete’ from their responsibilities which would have minimal or no implications. Support them in discussing letting this go.

Tip 4: Apply the 3D rule to tasks. The first D is for Delete. Delete things when they come in if they do not need to be addressed. If you cannot delete them, go to the second D, which is for delegate. Ask yourself, “Is there someone else who could do this task better and more effectively than you and it would fit into their role?” If so, delegate it to them. Many times we try and do things that don’t need to be done by us. Thirdly, if you cannot delete or delegate, move to the last D, which is for just Do it!

Tip 5: Go back and look at what products and services you have sold in the last 12 months. Is there something that with concerted effort could be producing more sales? A recent review of my business coaching timetable and requests led me to see that I would not be able to keep up with demand so I have hired another coach to enable that part of my business to grow.

Tip 6: Clean up your inbox. Go through your e-mails and delete the ones you no longer need. You know the ones that have been sitting there for months in case you need to go back to it. If you have not responded or actioned it by now, chances are it is probably too late anyway. The other great way to spring clean it is to sort the e-mails by size and delete the larger files you no longer need. If you have many of these e-mails, it may increase the speed of your computer and your work on it. You could also create sub folders and put things away for later reference as a way to find things easier when you are looking for them. And don't forget to back up your computer and schedule regular backups in your diary.

Tip 7: Clean your work surfaces. Remove everything and dust or wash your desk or workspace. As you put things back, clean them, too. Having an office that has just been cleaned will take away the winter germs and is a great way to create a great surrounding that is more conducive to working.

Tip 8: File the paperwork, toss away old magazines and papers and clean out your in-tray. This will create space and make it easier to find things. Put the business cards you have collected into a compendium or put the details into an electronic database. Do not forget to put a note on the back of the card or in the notes section to say where you met that person. File away important papers that you will need for reference later on, such as insurance paperwork.

Tip 9: Update your website. Websites are an important part of your business brand. If people are visiting your website, there is nothing less professional than seeing a website that is out of date and has not been maintained. It can negate all of your other marketing initiatives. Depending on the type of business, you may need to update it weekly or monthly. Also as part of your branding, ensure that each of your branding tools – whether it be your letterhead, business cards or other stationery - is consistent with the look and emotional appeal that you are trying to create.

Tip 10: Spring clean your mind. Get outside and get some sunshine. Take a walk or take up a sport or interest. I meditate regularly to de-clutter my mind so I can focus on the big picture. It is easy in business to stay indoors and do the business things. However, to be successful in business, you need to be fit and have your brain open to new ideas. Vitamin D (from sunshine) is essential and increases your feeling of well being.

A good clean up is always satisfying and rewarding. In business, a Spring clean is essential to remove clutter and renew your focus and energy on the important things that contribute to your business success.

To find out more about Shivani and Passion@People Pty Ltd, visit her website today.

This article was written to provide helpful tips and hints on how to manage your small business.

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