A Refresher Course in Time Management

Some experts say time management is the ‘mother of all business skills.’ Knowing what items to prioritize and how to get the most amount of productive work into the workday cannot be underestimated.

Yet many people feel constantly stressed and run late, the latter of which can be a deal killer in the real estate business. As a public service, Espresso Agent would like to share these tips for helping real estate pros become more efficient through time management techniques.

• Working late into the night doesn’t necessarily make you more productive. In fact, most people require between seven and nine hours of sleep for the brain and body to fully recover. Starting the day tired is almost a guarantee productivity will take a hit.
• Prioritize early. Don’t wait until your day starts to decide what needs to be done. At the close of each business day, review the goals you didn’t meet, preview your appointments for the coming day, and reset your priorities. When you start fresh the next day, you’ll be ready to get to work without trying to remember your prior day.
• Say ‘no’ to multi-tasking. Attempting to accomplish too many items at one time is a sure route to failure. In the early 2000s, we all heard about the need to multi-task, but more recent research shows the brain can only focus on one major task at a time. Working on more than one task at a time makes us more mistake-prone and takes twice as much time as focusing – just the opposite of what we are trying to accomplish.
• Minimize interruptions. The most successful business people understand the value of time: they know when to set their phones to ‘do not disturb’ and when to shut their office door for call time. Researchers have found workplace interruptions can cost up to 6.2 hours a week – almost a whole workday. Imagine how much more you could accomplish with an extra six hours in the week!
• Power of positive thinking. It’s inevitable we occasionally blow a deal or have a bad day, but focusing on negativity becomes a time suck. Don’t feel sorry for yourself: as clichéd as it sounds, you’ll feel better and accomplish more if you treat challenges as mere bumps in the road and keep moving, you’ll maximize productivity.

Finally, set expectations with your co-workers and your clients, so they know what your availability will be and less prone to interruptions.

To become a better manager of your time, you need to be intentional: efficiency doesn’t just happen. Fortunately, the skills needed to manage your time effectively are all simple to master. Make a plan and spend a few weeks rigorously sticking to your new routines: as with anything, consistency is the key to success.