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When children are naughty, their bad behavior typically results in some form of parental intervention. Too bad small business owners can't employ the same tactic when their idle behavior leads them down the path of lost productivity and revenue.

While small businesses make up over 49 percent of private sector employment, (Source: SBA Office of Advocacy), nearly half fail within the first five years of operation mainly because of the owner's destructive behavior. Don't let that happen to you! Increase the probability of your financial survival by breaking the following productivity-busting bad behaviors:

Being disorganized. Disorganization breeds chaos. Consider how panicky you feel when the one document you need is buried in a messy desk drawer or when you can't find a report from last year because your hard drive is a beacon of bedlam. Now think about disorder like this on an organizational level. A disorganized small business riddled with undefined or unused processes is as effective as a boat made out of Swiss cheese.

Confusion in the workplace breeds inefficiency, wastefulness, and business bottlenecking. To prevent this from happening, clearly define staff responsibilities and company procedures by instituting a multi-dimensional business process management system that encourages communication, outlines roles, and continuously monitors processes. Tie your management strategy together by publishing it in an easily accessible employee handbook.

Thinking short-term. Operating moment-to-moment is not a hallmark of success for small businesses. Companies that survive think ahead rather than reacting to short-term needs. Failing to establish a business plan and setting goals will leave your small business with no sense of direction. Chart a map for your future every year. Revisit your plan monthly and make adjustments to suit current demands and accommodate upcoming objectives.

Disregarding your budget. Nothing will usher in the end of your small business faster than forgoing the figures. You must be diligent with your cash flow by staying current on what you’re spending. In addition to making sure that your company has enough money to cover its regular expenses and overhead, you should also have funds on hand for emergencies and to supplement earnings during slow periods.

Ignoring social media. Social media isn't all relationship updates and pictures of your lunch. Break the bad habit of ignoring social media by utilizing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+ as marketing tools. You can use these and other social media websites to grow your business on a number of fronts:

• Generate free publicity 
• Establish and control your business reputation 
• Engage and cultivate your customer base 
• Stay on top of industry trends 

Spreading yourself too thin. Instead of subscribing to the bad business habit of spreading yourself too thin, adopt the practice of delegating tasks. Small business owners are notorious for taking on too much because they are so invested in the company's success. Most small business owners fund their companies with their own money, sweat, and hard work, but this passion shouldn't override good business sense. Loosen the reins and entrust your qualified staff to perform more tasks of greater responsibility. After all, "Jack of all Trades, Master of None" is not a job title you should pursue.

Failing to back up data. Safeguarding your data means safeguarding your small business success. There is a difference in taking a business risk and playing with fire, and small businesses that do not back-up their data teeter on the edge of data disaster. In addition to backing up data on a local hard drive, consider storing financial information and files with a third-party service provider or a cloud storage system, like Symantec or DropBox. Being able to access crucial data, especially in the event of an emergency, is essential to keeping your business afloat. This is painfully true if your small business is affected by a natural disaster. According to the Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/4-ways-safeguard-and-protect-your-small-business-data) up to 60% of small businesses do not reopen after a natural disaster.

Are you guilty of any of these small business bad habits?

Author Bio
Shannon Cyr is the Director of Content and Social Media at Virtual Vocations, the Internet's best site for legitimate telecommute job postings. With a background in human resources and corporate training, Shannon has 15 years experience working with corporations and individuals as a coach and mentor and is dedicated to providing useful information and resources to help job-seekers claim their career bliss. Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook.