With over 20 years in IT — spanning large enterprise systems integrators, small IT support companies, and running my own consulting group — I’ve encountered a common challenge across the board: time management and timesheet entry.
So, what strategies can effectively encourage techs to enter their time and hold them accountable? And how can you manage workloads to prevent feeling overwhelmed? Here are a few methods I’ve found successful.
1. Explain Why It’s Necessary
A little education can transform attitudes toward time entry. When onboarding new team members, clarify the importance: “We need you to enter your time. Without this, we can’t create invoices for clients, which means we don’t get paid. It’s vital to our process.”
If time entry isn’t directly linked to invoices, explain its significance within the broader company operations. Understanding the “why” can reduce resistance.
2. Make It Easy
The more cumbersome the time entry process, the less likely people will comply. Streamlining this process is crucial. If time entry is vital to your business, invest time in eliminating unnecessary steps and simplifying the workflow.
3. Prioritization
Overwhelm often stems from a lack of focus. Research shows multitasking is ineffective. Help your team concentrate on what’s important.
When someone feels overwhelmed, sit down with them to list their tasks. Discuss urgency and importance, then prioritize the top three. Encourage them to focus on these before seeking further assistance. This perspective shift can help break the cycle of overwhelm.
4. Train Them
Humans excel at envisioning and influencing the future but often dwell on the past. Shift this mindset — focus on training your staff on future expectations and provide ongoing feedback to ensure adherence. Instead of fixating on past actions, emphasize what you want them to accomplish. Train, support, and coach them toward success.
I’m passionate about helping MSP techs accomplish more with reduced stress and greater control, so I created the MSP Productivity Accelerator. It teaches Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology and workload management in ConnectWise. This training has been valuable for teams seeking better time management and work oversight in their PSA systems.