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| > The Practice > Practice Builder |
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| 21 Ways to Reclaim the Minutes in Your Day |
| by
Allyson Lewis
| 05-21-09 |
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6. Start and completely finish one task at a time
Many financial advisors can start a project or task and move it to 98% of completion only to stop short of finishing the last 2%. Make it a point to start and completely finish one task at a time.
7. Create repeatable processes and systems
Take the time to stop and think about the routines you and your team do over and over every day. Don't reinvent the wheel every time you open a new account or host a client review, rather choose to create processes and systems to streamline those activities.
8. Use checklists
As you create your processes and systems, create checklists for you to use each time. A checklist provides consistency and serves as a protocol for you and for your team. It also provides the opportunity to cross off what has been accomplished and it will clearly show what is left to do.
9. Just say no
Don't be afraid to politely say no. Time management is often a "yes" or "no" decision. If you are asked to participate in an activity that doesn't line up with what you are trying to accomplish, politely say "No, thank you."
10. Get rid of the distractions
True productivity occurs when you are able to totally focus all of your mental and physical energy on one task at a time. To improve your productivity you may need to get rid of the tiny distractions in your day. When you are able to fully focus on starting and completing a task you can feel so in the moment that time can seem to stand still.
11. Ask for help
Don't waste time trying to figure something out when you can quickly make a call or ask someone how to do something correctly the first time.
12. Don't pack your day too full
Some financial advisors believe they will get more done if they jam pack their day. This may not be true. Effective calendaring involves making sure you have scheduled the appropriate amount of time for each event or project (including travel time) and that you include time to debrief or tend to the tasks after each meeting.
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Allyson Lewis is the author of The Seven Minute Difference. She speaks about improving time-management, increasing productivity, and rediscovering purpose. Visit her Web site to find out more about her newest time-management project, The 7 Minute Life Daily Planner. She also has a blog and a Twitter account.
The author is not an employee of Morningstar, Inc. The views expressed in this article are the author's. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Morningstar. |
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