Learn my time management strategies for Realtors© in 2023
In a recent poll of active real estate agents one of the top challenges was time management. Most agents have little to no accountability or training in using their time effectively, so they end up piddling away minutes, hours and then day after day being busy, but doing very little to effectively build their real estate business. This misuse of time is tragic because not only does one typically not achieve their financial and professional goals, but they usually feel stressed as they don’t know how to turn things around and therefore it also affects their level of fulfillment and overall enjoyment of life. In today’s post I list the top time management mistakes of agents and then give effective strategies to gain control of your time and make it work for you and your business. Let’s learn about this today… act and create a fantastic 2023!
- Over-scheduling.
- Failure to delegate or dump tasks.
- Focusing on low dollar activities.
- No plan or systems
- Don’t time block.
- Fail to qualify.
- Fail to prioritize.
- Fail to present, dialog, question and handle objections properly.
- Putting your home number, cell number everywhere and saying you are available 24-7.
- Busyness and not business.
- Little to no accountability.
How many of the above are you guilty of? Even as the presenter of this post I see several areas I can improve. Now is a great time to point out there is no one who is perfect at time management. We all have room for improvement, so it isn’t about winning or failing it is about taking an honest assessment of where you currently are and taking steps in the right direction… Starting right NOW!
- Use the 3D test on everything – Do I “Do” it? Do I “Delegate” it? Do I just “Dump” it?
- Time Block – Jim Rohn said finish your week before it begins. Prior to the week starting, block your time slots in advance. Time for you first. Time for family and friends second. Time for high dollar activity next (Lead generation, buyers, sellers, price reductions, negotiating offers). Rest of schedule can be filled in as the week progresses.
- Use the 3C Board – Every 90 days. All items that really need to be done post sticky notes on the wall under the “CREATE” column. Then all the items that really need to be done that are under way post sticky notes on the wall under the “CREATING” column. Finally, all the important items that you accomplished post sticky notes on the wall under the “CREATED” column and celebrate your accomplishments.\
- Schedule your daily Power Hour. No excuses. Put a stop sign on your office door. Make calls to people that you know, past leads, people in your database, people in your email drips every day and keep in touch and follow up.
- Develop checklists and systems for everything in your real estate business. Work smarter and not harder.
- Treat every day like you are going on vacation the next day and make daily to do lists. I book a week off every 6 weeks.
- Use real time voice messaging and real time auto email responders. “Your call or email is important. I will be returning emails and calls between __ and ___. Or ___ and ____.
- Voice record or call your voice mail any time you think of something important to do. Leave it in one place for later to ensure it gets done when the time is right. Take control and don’t react all the time.
- Get up an hour earlier every day and see how much more you get done in a week.
- Take a scheduled day off every week no matter what. Take time to reload and be fresh and effective.
- Every 15 minutes take note of what you are doing. Track and measure the use of your time every day. Hold yourself accountable.
- Eat the frog – Brian Tracey said to “Eat the frog” first. The one thing that you know is so important to do and you just keep putting it off. Start the day right and “eat the frog”.
- Learn to say “No” – Les Hewitt said, “I want you to know that this has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me and I need to just say No. I hope you can understand?”
- Touch each piece of paper or open an email only once. Meaning only sit and read when you have time to review and respond not just on the fly and then again and again.
- Always ask yourself “Is what I am doing right now the best use of my time?”
- Follow the 3 X 3 X 3 rule from my coach. Each day only 3 projects. Only 3 tasks. Only 3 people to reach out to. You must focus on the little to be given much.
- Turn it off. This means the mobile devices, the TV, the computer, and any other distracting device and take some down time to think, reflect and create.
- Always plan for the unplanned, meaning leave gaps in your day for the unexpected. Schedule open time daily for those pop up tasks in your day.
- Limit your social networking to only 30 minutes at the beginning or the end of your day. Limit your account posts (Facebook) to the most valuable people in your personal and business life. Not everyone.
Remember this isn’t a race, it’s a marathon. Don’t try to implement all 19 management strategies at once or you will defeat the purpose. Take one or two that really resonate with where you currently are and where you want to be and apply them. Once they are a habit in your life then add a couple more into the mix. Be diligent with this process and within 3-6 months you will be amazed at how much you get done in a day and how fulfilled and at peace you feel. Since you are busy spending your “time” each day why not spend it efficiently to better your business and improve your lifestyle?
Strength and courage,
Wade
