As loan originators, we have a lot on our plates every day. And try as we might, even a perfectly organized schedule can get away from us sometimes, forcing us to be busy. It’s not a concern if it’s occasional, but when being busy is our constant mode, we need to take a step back and reassess. Today, I want to look at the difference between just being busy, and actually being productive. Let’s look at the contrast between the two:
When We’re Busy
When we’re busy, it can sometimes feel like we’re moving faster toward our definition of success. We might see business growth, we may be learning new things, and it may feel like we’re making real progress toward accomplishing our goals. The thing that might not be clear to us when we’re consistently busy though, is that we may not actually need to be busy to have that same impact. So, while busy may feel like a necessary component of success, you should always pause and take a deeper look. If you find that your daily to-do lists are getting pushed back to the next day, or if you find yourself frequently staying late in the office or working from home in the evenings and on weekends, then it should be some cause for concern. When we’re always rushing from one thing to the next without sufficient downtime, we’re probably not using our time to its fullest potential. This busy trap can cause us to actually waste time and create new obstacles and challenges for ourselves. Here’s where we need to make a separate designation for being busy and being productive.
When We’re Productive
As I mentioned above, there’s a difference between busy and productive. I wrote recently about how we can be more productive, here. Increased productivity can sometimes make us less busy, and it can also often improve our success. You’ve probably heard the popular admonition ‘work smarter not harder’, and productivity has everything to do with working smarter. When we become aware of how we work best, and we consistently stick within that framework, we regain some control over our pace. Being productive doesn’t raise our stress levels and make us frantic, like being busy can. Being productive might not translate to much slower days, but it can translate to less rush and greater confidence. Rather than pinging from task to task without time to take a breath, being productive allows us to work assuredly and methodically.
Making the Transition
If you agree with the difference between busy and productive, and you want to make the transition from the former to the latter, what’s the best way to start? Maybe the simplest thing to implement in your days is learning to take a beat and pause. Immediately, you can break free from the frenetic pace of being busy and reclaim some control. It’s not always opportune, but that small act can help you slow your pace and refocus your efforts on how to be most efficient. Next, you might try to add some space in your schedule — before and after meetings and calls, which can assist you in not losing control over your day. A less-stacked schedule might not have any impact on what you get accomplished that day, but may have a sizable impact on your ability to be more productive. Aim for an optimized schedule that you can realistically execute. Then, continue to look for new strategies and time-management tips to stay efficient, without becoming swamped.
When we notice ourselves being busy consistently, it’s usually time to take a step back and perform an assessment. Being busy isn’t sustainable, but being productive always is. When you make the transition from busy to productive, you’ll find that you’re accomplishing more with less effort.
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