How do you measure your productivity? In dollar volume? Number of clients? Net income? Your own satisfaction?
With so many of us working from home, it can be a challenge to measure oursuccesses. After all, it’s not like you are working in a busy office and can stand up and whoop when you have closed that big sale.
But being productive is an art, and one that often takes your own motivation to happen.
Here are some tips to turn on that productivity tap:
- A designated workspace is not only crucial for you to seamlessly shift back and forth between work-you and home-you, it also means you have an office or even just a corner where you can mentally shut the door when your work day is over. (Which is not to say you should be glued to your chair. Taking a break from time to time is not only good for your health, but it will refresh and energize you. See my recent Sphere article, Sitting is the New Smoking – But You Can Fix That)
- Routine, while not always practically possible, is important for your personal and professional health. That doesn’t mean Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 (in fact, it shouldn’t) but find what works for you. I know working mums who take a break in the afternoon for a school run, kid time and dinner, then return to work after the kids are in bed. “It’s much quieter and I can really concentrate,” one told me. “Plus, that’s often when my clients are available too.” Make sure your family, friends and clients know your work hours – adding them to your email signature and other marketing tools is a great start.
- Reduce what you sell. I know this is hard for newcomers but there will come a time when you’ll know that you cannot be all things to all clients. It doesn’t make sense for you to research an escorted tour of Southeast Asia one minute while another client wants an airport hotel near Newark the next. Sell what you love (be it adventure travel, Europe, or cruises) and you’ll be happier, and more time efficient.
- Where do your clients come from? If you see you’re getting a lot of business from your pickleball club or your condo association or simply word of mouth, how can you get more? The less time you have to spend prospecting and the more time you can spend selling travel, the more productive you’ll be.
- Hire what you hate. It’s rare that a go-getter sales star also has the precise eye for detail needed by an accountant. Whether it’s a cleaner for your house or a bookkeeper for your quarterly HST reports, hire somebody to do the stuff you hate so you can spend more time doing what you do best.
- Your host agency is doing its best to ensure that you succeed. Take advantage of their training programs, face-to-face meet ups and communications. You’ll gain insider info, learn about special commission offers, and become (you guessed it) more productive.
