Developing Time Management Skills For Sales People

168 hours. That is the amount of time we each have every week. But while the time we have might be equal, how we manage it can differ greatly. How you manage your 168 hours, can determine your level of success. Let’s explore what’s required for developing time management skills for your sales people.

I’m sure you’ve experienced that blink of an eye moment. Where you get to the end of the day and wonder just what you’ve accomplished. Sure you’ve been busy – hectic even, but what do you really have to show for it? Many of the financial planners I work with used to experience this all of the time.

We all know that managing our time smartly is the key to high performance. But how do you start to develop smarter time management habits and make them stick? Here are some of the tips I regularly go through with my clients.

Manage distractions

Distractions are all around us. Emails, social media notifications, phone calls, client meetings, colleague and client requests and the list goes on. While some of these may be genuine needs that require your urgent attention, if we examined all of the distractions that we focused on in a day, we’d find most could have waited until the urgent priorities on your to-do list were checked off.

Now it would be crazy to think that we can eliminate all distractions in the workplace. But we can put rules around some of them. For example, switch off alerts, set times around checking your emails and close your inbox down outside of these times. Set do-not-disturb hours in your schedule and have clear boundaries around these times.

Don’t let other’s determine your priorities – you are in charge of your time.

Get clear on priorities

In the moment everything can seem urgent, and it can be easy to fall into the trap of always being accessible. But if you don’t spend time establishing your own priorities, you’re likely to spend your time meeting everyone else’s.

Stephen Covey, in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, introduced us to urgent and important tasks. I love his book especially when establishing priorities. Urgent tasks are the tasks that if not done immediately come at a high cost. It could be losing a client, lost income or opportunities to name only a few.

On the other hand, important tasks, although considered a high priority, won’t result in your business – or you – suffering if you don’t get to them right away. As you are setting your key tasks for the day – and agreeing to others – keep this in mind.

Chunk your tasks

For example, if you haven’t already, establish set days each week that are devoted to client meetings, administration, writing plans, then get to it straight away. By doing so, you will find you are able to get through all of your tasks without interruptions and will feel far more organised and structured.

This also gives you the benefit of set office days where you can get your other urgent and important tasks done without the interruption of meetings.

The truth is if you don’t take the time to plan the week you want, you’ll be stuck with the week you’re given. If you start to develop these time management habits, you will be surprised at your level of productivity and performance.

Finally one last tip – get organised for the week on either Sunday or Friday prior to you leaving the office.

Time Management Skills

Now that we’ve freed up more time in your schedule, how about we get you more sales? Key #4 – increasing conversions will show you how to do just that.

What are some time management strategies that you can implement this week?

If you or your business are looking to develop time management skills for your sales people, please contact us at Performance Advisory Group.

Have a great week!

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