How to Increase Productivity

As a real estate agent, your income depends on the number of successful property transactions you complete. Thus, your ability to be productive at work is one of the most important skills you can master in pursuit of becoming a top agent. 

Today we’ve got the top 10 tips we share with new agents who are looking to increase their productivity. Whether you’re battling quarantine-induced cabin fever or simply trying to streamline your day-to-day routine, our task-busting suggestions are sure to help you get cracking.

1.) Don’t fall for the myth of multitasking.

Somehow, our culture has collectively decided that the vast majority of us are capable of handling two, three, or more tasks at once. The truth is, no one can multitask. At best, one can quickly switch between tasks. Ultimately, this approach degrades one’s quality of work, makes each task more time-consuming, and results in a spike in stress levels.

Instead, remind yourself that either it’s a good time to tackle a worthwhile task, or it isn’t. While you may occasionally have to resort to rapid switching, it’s a good idea to avoid it whenever possible. 

2.) Mute notifications during deep work.

If you’re about to place a critical call or do a researching deep dive, it’s okay to mute your notifications. When you’re distracted from your work, it takes about 25 minutes to get your mind back on track. If you want to instantly boost your ability to be productive, create a cheery automated reply to cover your desk when you’re hard at work.

3.) Automate repeating, simple tasks.

Wherever possible, eliminate rote work from your routine. Modern software makes it easy to set it and forget it, ensuring that your energy and creativity can be fully devoted to more important jobs. 

4.) Prioritize tasks daily and weekly.

In order to maximize your effectiveness, it’s crucial that you take the time to sort through your tasks and divide them by urgency. Once you’ve selected items that must be accomplished, consider how long each task will take, and weigh this factor against the impact it will make. While this kind of thinking may be new, you’ll find that it very quickly becomes a habit you can use in all areas of your life.

5.) Eat the Frog. 

“If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first.”
― Mark Twain

After you’ve set your day’s priorities, you may find that there’s a particularly unpleasant task looming. By deciding to get this dreaded task out of the way first, the rest of your day will only offer you work that you’ll consider to be comparatively easy; well done, you!

6.) Outsource your biggest time-sinks.

While we can’t all have interns or assistants, before long, there will be a new agent who needs to learn the ropes. While you won’t be able to shift anything complicated over to the agent-in-training, it’s a good idea to outsource simple, repetitive tasks. This way, the new agent learns the systems, meets the rest of the team, and gains confidence, while you’ll be freed up to focus on more complicated matters.

7.) Plan for things to go wrong.

The best way to be prepared when things go sideways is to plan for everything to go wrong. Expect delays in paperwork processing times, plan for forms to get devoured by the void of cyberspace, and assume that the home inspector will find issues that will send your client back to the negotiating table.

If you under-promise based on the worst-case scenario, your clients and colleagues will be pleased by your consistently delivering ahead of schedule. 

8.) Get going to get motivated.

Admit it: we’ve all poked around a bit in the morning waiting for a burst of inspiration to strike—possibly more than a few times. However, success lies in taking the opposite approach. Our minds are better suited to finding a groove once we’ve started working. 

If you’re having trouble feeling motivated, try something like the Pompodoro technique. Usually, getting started is the only real hurdle you’re facing.

9.) Take care of yourself.

In this business, the biggest factor that will determine your level of success is YOU. Every effort you make toward your health and grooming should be considered in this light; for example, if you increase your activity level and become better energized, you’ll likely find that your productivity at work surges.

10.) Continue to improve your skill set.

As you gain experience as an agent, you’ll have the opportunity to enroll in further education, learn from a more senior agent, and engage with many real estate agents throughout middle Tennessee. If you’re serious about your productivity, seize these chances as they arise. 

Hone your skills, expand your sphere of influence, and expand your network of contacts anytime you can. The better you are at your job, the more you’ll be able to accomplish in any given day.

Finally, be kind to yourself when you have days that leave you feeling like you’ve accomplished nothing. It’s important that you keep your focus on how you’ll approach the next day; with hard work, focus, and a hefty dose of mental flexibility, you’ll be back on track in no time.

Are you an experienced real estate agent? Share your tips for increased productivity in the comments below. New agents, let us know if these tips are helpful, and be sure to share what you’ve learned about productivity in your first months with Parks Realty.