Being a new agent can be overwhelming. Networking, finding leads, making sales – it can be difficult to juggle all of these tasks with a limited amount of time. Fortunately, there are ways to stay organized and manage your time well. Keep reading for tips on how to effectively manage your time to be a better agent.
Tip #1: Know Your Starting Point
Before you can begin to make changes, you should first know where you’re starting from. This means quantifying how much time you spend on email, on networking, on the phone, wasting time on your cell phone, etc. With that knowledge, you can assess where you’re spending time that you shouldn’t be.
Tip #2: Prioritize
With so many tasks, it’s inevitable that not all of them are going to be accomplished in one, two, or even three sittings. Prioritizing the tasks that need to get done now will help you stay on track. You can lump tasks into three categories: needs to get done ASAP, needs to be done soon, and needs to be done some time in the future. Prioritize your biggest, most time sensitive tasks first.
Tip #3: Set Goals
Setting goals is important. It allows you to track your progress. Some people have a difficult time making goals. Good goals are specific and reasonable. For example, instead of saying “I want to reply to all my emails,” say, “I will reply to these specific 15 emails by 10am”. Make sure to come up with a reasonable number of goals within a time period.
Tip #4: Be Organized
This may seem obvious, but being organized is one of the easiest ways to jumpstart your efficiency. This means being organized in your space but also in terms of your time. Make sure you have all of your necessary items nearby and that each item has a place. Make a schedule for your time. For example, block out certain portions of the day for meetings and emails. Only check emails at certain intervals rather than with each notification.
Tip #5: Delegate
Outsource certain tasks whenever possible. For example, you can use email marketers to generate leads for you. You can also use an assistant for only a few hours of a day if you can afford to.
In sum, managing your time doesn’t have to be difficult. With some planning and diligence, you can be more efficient and an overall better agent!