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If You Don’t Manage Your Time, Who Does?

Submitted by Mitch Seigel on Tue, 1/15/2013

One thing that always amazes me is how many sales professionals, who for their livelihood rely on doing things in an orderly manner, virtually hate to organize themselves. The fact is that most sales professionals also know that it comes with the territory.

So how do you manage your time? It really is a constant work in progress. I’m sitting here writing this blog on a Sunday, at the same time looking at things I’ve got to get done before the work day tomorrow. My priority goes to this blog because I get it out on Tuesday every week and I need to hand it off to someone to set it up for me to post.

Next I look at other timely tasks, and I see I have a presentation to an active client that needs to be ready by Tuesday afternoon for a Wednesday morning management meeting at the client. The priority of this presentation is high because this is key account in combination of when it is due.

The thing you can’t prepare for are fires that need to be put out. You need to know that they will come up and not to get stressed over their appearance. When they do occur you’ll need to re- prioritize what needs to be done and go to work in making the new priorities happen.

While doing things on the fly seem to be the organizational process used by many, it is not the suggested practice. If you over do your time management you’ll have both written and electronic systems to keep you on track. Keep on top of it daily and you should be OK. You need to be in control of your tasks and not let your tasks control you.

What are your challenges when it comes to time management? I look forward to hearing your comments. Until next time…