My “To Do” List is More Impressive than my “Ta-Dah” List

“There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time.” This quote, attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, is extremely applicable to salespeople. Everyone has the same number of hours in their day; the people who use them the most efficiently will be the most successful. Effective time management for sales professionals hinges on the successful application of a few key concepts that the best salespeople are already putting into practice.

Stop Multitasking

There are plenty of salespeople who pride themselves on their ability to multitask. Unfortunately, you probably aren't multitasking as well as you think. According to research by Dr. David Strayer at the University of Utah, only 2% of the population can actually multitask without the quality of each task being adversely impacted. Focusing on one task at a time allows you to improve the quality of your work on each individual task that you have to tackle.

Prioritize

You probably have more things to do in a day than you have time for, but the world will also probably not end if you don’t finish every single one of those tasks in a single workday. Many training professionals suggest adopting what is known as an A-B-C time management plan.

For sales professionals using this method of time management, you break down your to-do list into three categories. “A” level tasks are supportive of your long-term goals, urgent in nature, and will have consequences if they are not done. “B” level tasks are important but not quite as urgent; they need to get done, but some delay would be acceptable. “C” level tasks would be great to finish, but they really are not that important. Be honest with yourself when you classify your tasks, you shouldn’t have more than a handful of “A” tasks each day.

Pick Who You Serve

Everyone has to answer to someone. Whether it is a manager, customer or an angry spouse; we all have people who need us to solve problems. The question you should ask is: who do you need to serve today to make sure that you are successful? Remember that a balanced personal life is also important for success in the workplace. Sometimes, you will have to serve these kinds of needs first. And keep in mind that by trying to serve everyone equally, you actually serve no one.

Learn To Say No

This is one of the hardest things to do for the friendly, people-pleasing professionals working in sales. As humans, we are naturally inclined to do what we can to make others happy. Unfortunately, even minor assistance infrequently provided can build up to a serious drain on time. Before you say yes to a request from a friend or colleague, think about how it aligns with your professional goals; if it does not fit in, skip it. Steve Jobs put it best: “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are.”

Use The Right Tools

Everyone has a method they use for time management. For some, the old school method of pen and paper works just fine. Others prefer taking advantage of the convenience of time management software and applications. There are many of these that are popular with all kinds of workers, such as Rescue Time or MyLifeOrganized. Do some research to see what is out there and pick one that works best for your needs.

Looking for some professional help with time management for sales professionals? The ASLAN team can help you make sure that your salespeople are getting the most out of every hour while also maintaining a balanced, fulfilling life.

ASLAN for Life. Managing and balancing priorities are even more important when it comes to our life outside of work, so make sure you are investing in your “ta-dah” list with family and friends as well.