Lee Davenport
By Lee Davenport
Time-blocking (designating time on your schedule to work on a specific task) isn’t really a challenge. Whether you prefer pen and paper or an online system, you can fill your schedule with items galore. But the real trick is staying consistent with time-blocking.
It helps if you know how to be a bouncer. You read that right. When you think of a bouncer, you likely think of the doorman at popular club or celebrity-filled event. That’s exactly who I’m talking about. The difference is, you’re going to be the bouncer of your time, not a venue.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but not all of us guard it the samebway. This either diminishes or enhances our ability to “get’er done.” So, follow these habits of a time-block bouncer in the points and video below.
Be Honest and Offer Alternatives
Imagine you’ve been guarding your time like a professional bouncer, but someone slips through your boundaries. It happens. All is not lost! Simply be honest and—this is the key—ask for an alternative time to connect. For example:
“Sally, thanks for __(calling/stopping by/etc.), but this is not a good time. Can we connect ___ (add time option 1) or ___ (add time option 2)?”
If the interruption comes online via email or social media, then use one of these Google calendar integrated tools to give that person a dedicated time that fits both of your schedules: Assistant.To or Calendly.
Work Where No One Knows Your Name
To get work done, don’t go where you’re living out the “Cheers!” theme song. If you can’t concentrate with family, friends, or colleagues around, then relocate for your best productivity. We now live in a world where co-working spaces—low- or no-cost communal work stations that offer the creature comforts of meeting rooms, printing, WiFi, and other office amenities—are becoming as commonplace as grocery stores. Explore sites like DesksNear.Me or Coworker.com to see what’s near you and how others rate them. And remember, your local library is still a great place to go where the librarians (a.k.a. sound bouncers) happily “shush” away any of your interruptions.
If you are interested in more tips for becoming a successful time-blocker, I take a deeper dive on this topic in my “Laws of Follow-Up” video series. Learn more in the video below:
I would love to hear from you. Give me a shout on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Google+, or by visiting LearnWithLee.Realtor. Want more of the best practices from our nation’s top producers? Grab your copy of the short read, Profit with Your Personality. And, be sure to tell the real estate agents you know to get a copy of the 5-star rated workbook, Plan to Win!, to transform their real estate sales game plan. Here’s to your success.
Dr. Lee Davenport is an Atlanta-based real estate coach who trains agents, teams, brokerages, and other business organizations on how to use today’s technology to work smarter. Join Lee’s free RE Tech Insider’s Club by visiting www.LearnWithLee.REALTOR.