One of the key factors for a tool that works in my business is one that I can use while I’m on the go. When I discovered Asana – I thought it was heaven! Read and discover how I use Asana to help manage my business and my life!
What is Asana?
Asana is a full service project and team management tool that is also a cloud-based collaborative workspace. I use it to brainstorm, plan, organize and communicate details across distances with my team of independent contractors.
Why I Use Asana?
I use Asana with my work group because it keeps me instantly organized. As SaneSpaces.com has grown, and I’ve added my Time & Space Style Inventory and created my own product, affiliate program and groups – Asana helps me deliver what I promise. Have you ever hear the saying: ‘new level, new devil’? With growth, comes additional responsibility and accountability! I can’t do it all myself, so I can easily delegate and keep everything straight using this tool. Asana helps me see my projects, task lists, due dates, and assign items from anywhere as long as I have a wifi or mobile connection. I only have to write things once – which saves time, and I can communicate faster, more efficiently and more effectively, because updates are instantly available via a quick screen refresh. Asana holds the place for me, my business, my projects and my support team, which allows me peace of mind if I’m out of the office or taking much needed vacation!
[Tweet “New level, new devil! Streamline your business ops with #asana. I love it! “]
What Are The Benefits of Using Asana For My Business?
There are many benefits of using a project-based tool when working with a cross-functional, dispersed team. I originally chose Asana because it was free, but when I started to really use it as a backbone in my business activities, I realized it’s benefits! First of all, Asana is accessible to anyone who has an email address. It is Google-compatible which means you can get notifications and use it to cross-reference your calendar and task list. Asana helps you avoid endless email trails because you can communicate within the app by adding comments, tasks, sub-tasks and project details that normally would need to be translated into text. Asana also contains a customizable user dashboard that will allow you to see incomplete items that are on your list, but you can also pull up all tasks even after they are completed. You’re able to upload & download documents, graphic images and any other attachment into a project. Plus, you can easily move and update tasks. All these benefits really enhance and streamline virtual communication and stay in alignment with my team which reduces my stress.
How To Use Asana To Streamline Business Workflows
There are several ways I use Asana to streamline my business workflows.
- Use Asana in place of email trails: Instead of having Email streams from any number of my contractors, I am able to work through my Asana Inbox tasks. This helps me to stay current and avoid losing details in emails in my day in and out flow of email.
- Use Asana for Projects: It’s so easy to create a project in Asana. The user interface allows you to add lengthy project descriptions, brainstorm task flows, assign colors, tasks to team members, and deadlines. Everything is moveable and editable depending on the permissions you grant to your team members.
- Use Asana for Tasks: It is very easy to add tasks, subtasks and assign due dates to the slightest task. All team members can assign task owners – which allows a great, creative and collaborative space.
- Use Asana for Templates: I’ve created reusable templates in Asana that allow me to streamline things in my business. I have templates for things like – “Teleclass Launch”, “Speaking Gigs”, “Guest Appearances” “Radio Shows”. This way – if the project that is something that is repeated within my business, I’m able to simply replicate a template, fill in the updated details but have all the tasks that need to be completed ready to assign to others!
- Use Asana for Teams: I’ve created one project for each of my support people for different biz processes. For instance, I have ‘projects’ titled: Web Stuff – Jenn, Writing – Carol, Infusionsoft – Deb, and Blogs, Tips & Newsletters – Renee. Each of my support team is assigned a different color too, which makes it easy to scan the interface and see what’s popping at any given time. It has dramatically cut down on our emails back and forth since we simply communicate within the app most of the time.
How To Use Asana As A “Light” CRM?
CRM is the acronym in marketing that stands for Client Relationship Management, and I add the word ‘light’ as a descriptor here because Asana (although great) is not a typical CRM for your business. BUT I use Asana as a CRM in this way: I’ve created a project called “CLIENTS”, and then I use tags to create ‘Stages’ for clients: such as leads, prospects, speaking clients, Current, Not-Current and Group Programs. Each client has a record and I keep very brief notes up to date. During my coaching calls, I typically take notes long-hand, but I transfer these notes into Asana as brief comments per each session. This way, if I am out of the office and a client wants to book a call – I’ve got my cliff notes as long as I have wifi or a mobile connection!
How Will You Use Asana?
Your homework assignment from this blog post is to go check out the app. See if it’s something that may help you ‘hold the space’ and only handle things once.
I’d love to know how it goes. If you’re struggling to keep it all together and get it all done, click here to schedule a private, complimentary 1-1 Discovery Session to see if I can help! I have lots of coaching packages to fit your needs.
Drop your comments and questions below and let’s see if I can help! Now, I’m going to click over to Asana, and update my “Blog” Project and celebrate this completed post! Woo Hoo!
