Two more keys to success

Last week we considered communication skills, the third part of the three essential factors in the success of any program designed to improve performance and increase production.  Now let’s look at the first two parts, which are closely aligned:

1. Personal Time-Management
2. Organizational Skills

One of the best approaches to time-management is to time-block your calendar.  This means to book times for certain activities and fill-in each quarter of your calendar, in advance.  Log everything including free time, prospecting, client reviews, exercise, and vacations.

Once you have a planned schedule, organize your days around  it.  Allow 20% of your time for “fire and flood” events, what one of my coaching clients calls those unpredictable events that must be attended to urgently.  Most of all, stay the course!  If you have established a reasonable time frame for all activities you will find it easier to stay on track and thus accomplish more.

Organizational skills can be easily acquired and will produce the greatest boost to your productivity.  For example, start your organizing simplistically and continue to build on it as you focus your energy.  Establish a morning routine, a habit for the way you operate each day.  When you arrive at your office each morning, use the exact same process.  Review e-mail for urgent items, review voicemail for important messages, and then prepare your focus for the day.

Each day, have one income-generating thing to do that will advance you toward your goal.  This is the first item to focus your energy on.  Next, have three crucial items on your daily focus list, prioritized by importance.  Start with number one. After its completion, then move on to the next item.  If you develop this habit and use it every day, you will gain the organizational skills that assure your success.

Taking control of your personal time-management and your organizational skills is a sure-fire way to increase your self-confidence, self-esteem, and ultimately your production.  That leads to more financial security!