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Life Health > Running Your Business

5 Tips to Transform Your Workweek

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What You Need to Know

  • Steve Plewes believes better sales start with being a better person.
  • He wants you to talk less and listen more.
  • Evidence of his ability to sell: He has been in the Million Dollar Round Table for 34 years.

As a financial professional, the workweek can often feel repetitive and dull, making it a challenge to get your mind into the right place to reach your goals.

Here are some tips to consider to transform your workweek energy, give you that boost of confidence in your work, and help alleviate some of the stresses that come with day-to-day tasks.

1. Put people first.

Putting others before yourself is not only a golden rule, it’s a core value in the workplace, as well as throughout life.

You may often walk into the workplace with your mind focused on your own tasks to accomplish, but it’s valuable to take a step back and see how others are doing.

For example, try practicing the idea of “how can I show up not just for myself, but for my clients and my team?”

This will help to boost the morale of your employees and deepen connections with your clients in the long run.

2. Take ownership.

There are always things that are happening that are out of our control, but the way you handle those sticky situations is what’s valuable.

Instead of responding to an error by saying, “That’s not my fault,” be honest and turn it into, “That was on me. How can I help correct this?”

Taking ownership and acknowledging your mistakes reflects leadership.

If your team sees that you’re willing to take a hit for an error, they will be able to respond in a similar way in the future.

3. Respect others’ priorities.

It’s easy to get into your own head and get bogged down, especially if you’re under financial pressure or pressure to produce results.

During these moments it’s essential to remind yourself that other people around you also have priorities.

For example, you may send out a proposal to a prospect and not hear back.

Though it can be frustrating, that person may be going through some hardships or dealing with higher priorities.

In a similar manner, that same level of respect should be applied to your staff.

Being able to have that sense of understanding and empathy about what they are going through allows for overall better communication and a sense of mutual respect.

Ultimately, both your clients’ and teams’ lives may not always be aligned with your schedule.

If they need to cancel or postpone, be patient and respectful of their experiences.

4. Be positive.

It’s easy to fall into victim mode, especially in the financial industry, as there is a lot of failure involved in creating successful outcomes.

Often, you’ll feel disappointed, especially if you’re going into client meetings with the mindset that a sale will be made on the spot.

To maintain a positive attitude amongst a sea of negative interactions, take some time to remind yourself of what successes you’ve had and what has gone well for you in the recent past.

Showing up every day positive, happy, and open-minded will enhance your company culture.

Know the difference between reacting and responding — instead of being a victim, be proactive and respond to what’s happening in a positive way.

5. Listen and learn.

You learn a lot when you listen, so learn to show up authentically, with curiosity, and listen to what your client or coworker is saying.

Often, what they’re saying is something that is important to them or their lives.

Handle the process step-by-step: listen first to understand what that person is really trying to get across, then you can begin to figure out the best way to respond.

Taking the time to really listen allows you to learn something new which can help you gain a better perspective into what people are going through.

Giving yourself the time to reflect through these tips will allow you to reach your full potential and goals with ease.

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a step back to think about these five points and ask yourself the following questions: How are you applying them to your daily work life? What can you incorporate to create a better environment for your team and clients? Soon, days will seem less dull and your goals more attainable than ever.


Steve Plewews. Credit: PlewesSteve Plewes, ChFC, CPC, ELI-MP, is an independent financial advisor. He is also a certified professional coach and a 34-year member of the Million Dollar Round Table, a group for top financial services sales professionals. At MDRT, he has earned 13 Court of the Table and 10 Top of the Table qualifications.

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