Coaches Corner: 4 Time Management Tips for Advisors

With the average worker checking their email inbox around 30 times per hour, it’s no wonder we have time management issues in our daily lives. This is just one example of a distraction constantly vying for our attention! 

The point is, everyone gets distracted and, for many people, time management is a serious issue. Many advisors’ plates are overflowing to the point they can’t keep their priorities straight. The whirlwind of thoughts and tasks to accomplish can pull us in until we’re spinning out of control. When that happens, we tend to freeze. It paralyzes us. We’ve all been there, and for some it’s hard to dig out.

Here are three questions to ask yourself if time management is an issue:

Question #1: What are your current distractions?

Question #2: Where is the whirlwind happening on a daily basis?

Question #3: What’s the one thing you need to solve first? 

Take time now to answer these three important questions. Simply reflecting on the questions and jotting down your answers should provide some good insights, but here are three proactive steps you can take to progress beyond mere insights. 

Tip 1: Define Your Role

It is also important to think about and define your role. Where do you want to spend most of your time? What are you best at? If you’re a rainmaker, you should be out there making connections, prospecting and spending time with your A+ clients, not doing operational or administrative duties around the office—you can hire someone else to do those things. Be clear about your role within the firm, and then make sure the majority of your time is devoted to those activities in which you thrive. 

Tip 2: Prioritize and Time Block