3 top tips for working smarter, not harder

July 20th, 2017

Ever wondered what Connective’s top broker settled in 2016?  Well we can’t tell you that but ask yourself: what did he (or she) do differently compared to me? Did they endure an entire year of sleepless nights?  Did they have help from elves, like the shoemaker? Maybe they had a huge marketing budget?

Pick up any book on what makes a successful business and the answers are always the same.  The key to success lies in our daily activities – be accountable, be disciplined and most importantly, work smarter not harder.

Here are 3 top tips from the Compliance Team on working smarter in 2017.

#1 – Use Mercury

For our Credit Reps, Mercury is mandatory. Our ACL holders are not required to use Mercury, but most do, which is great! If you are an ACL holder who is not using Mercury, perhaps it’s time to revisit the system and see how beneficial it can be. Why not talk to your local Broker Support Manager about an in-house training session?

Did you know Mercury was designed with our brokers in mind to make tasks as simple as possible? This is particularly true for all your compliance requirements:

• NCCP disclosure documents at the click of a mouse. Yes, it really is that easy!
• Set up task templates and emails in Mercury. If you find yourself writing the same emails over and over again, set up a template in Mercury.  Personalise the email to the customer, but have the email templated to save you time.
• Set up all your referring parties and contacts in Mercury so you can easily email them your marketing material. At the click of a button or two, all your contacts will receive your campaigns keeping, you top-of-mind.
• Systemise as much as possible using Mercury technology and the inbuilt checklists. Not only does this save time but produces consistency across all your activities for clients and opportunities.

#2 – Delegate, outsource and prioritise

Your time is valuable. Your expertise is in helping customers with the right loan solution. So why not consider outsourcing one or two things which take up your valuable time and take you away from what makes you money?

• Marketing: Have you considered joining My Marketing? If writing marketing templates and advertising emails is not your strength, outsource this to Connective. To find out more, have a chat with your local Broker Support Manager.

• The Pareto Rule: Eighty percent of your accomplishments come from 20 percent of your efforts. What 20% of your work is the most valuable to you and your business? Once you have identified that, prioritise it in to your work every day and learn to delegate or outsource the work which is less rewarding.

# 3 – Break big tasks into small tasks

Feel like a mole going into a mountain? Are those small tasks adding up to something overwhelming?  The trick is to be disciplined about doing a little bit every day.

• Set yourself time frames for returning phone calls and emails. Is it within 2 hours, or within the same day? Schedule time in your diary for returning calls if need be.

• Allowing yourself to work in shorter bursts and concentrate on one element of a task for a short time is far more productive than sitting down and trying to complete the whole thing in one afternoon.

These are just a few tips to working smarter that will make you feel more in control. Everyone is different so focus on what makes you more productive and gives you a sense of satisfaction.  Try implementing one thing at a time and make it a resolution to leave the office before ridiculous o’clock. You know that old saying about work life balance?  Working smarter will give you more time to relax and enjoy life outside of the office, so do contact your local Broker Support Manager to see how Connective can help.