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If you aspire to become a banker, it pays to start honing your time management skills early. Even if you are still in college or haven’t even enrolled yet, educating yourself about the best ways to use time effectively will serve you well throughout your career. Here are five helpful tips:
1. Create a Distraction-Free Environment
In today’s fast-paced, ultra-connected modern world, avoiding distractions is easier said than done. Between smartphones, computers, coworkers and other distractions, it’s easy to lose significant amounts of time and to watch your productivity falter. With this in mind, make your work environment a distraction-free oasis. If possible, turn off your smartphone during business hours. Otherwise, mute it to avoid being interrupted constantly by notifications. Stay away from the Internet and social media. If you have a door, close it whenever you need to put your nose to the grindstone. Otherwise, make a “do not disturb” sign and put it up whenever you need to focus.
2. Schedule Important Daily Tasks
Like many bankers, you may find yourself putting off routine but important daily tasks in order to handle other things. Inevitably, these crucial tasks start piling up and put an even bigger damper on your productivity. Avoid this issue by determining the best time of day to handle various things and scheduling them accordingly. For example, if things tend to be quiet early in the day, set aside 30 minutes every morning to take care of paperwork. If clients tend to be available near the end of the day, set aside time in your schedule to make calls then.
3. Take Breaks
Counterintuitive though it may be, deliberately scheduling small breaks throughout the day is a great way to effectively manage time. Everyone needs occasional breathers during the work day, and bankers are no exception. On your daily schedule, pencil in 10- or 15-minute break periods here and there, and make sure to take them. Spend them walking, doing exercises in your office or catching up with personal matters. You’ll come away feeling refreshed and will be better able to manage your time appropriately.
4. Delegate Tasks Whenever Possible
High achievers often feel compelled to take care of everything themselves. Many bankers are high-achieving individuals, so this is a common issue in the industry. Taking on too many responsibilities is a surefire way to run out of time every day and to fall woefully behind. Whenever possible, delegate tasks to others in your office. You might not savor the idea of relinquishing control, but you will appreciate how much easier it is to take care of important tasks by letting others handle simpler ones.
5. Take a Methodical Approach to the Workday
In today’s hectic world, having the ability to multitask is often advantageous. In the banking industry, however, it’s often a recipe for disaster. As a busy banker, you’re apt to try and tackle multiple tasks at a time. This approach often backfires, resulting in a lot of half-finished work–and, in many cases, lots of careless mistakes. Make a point of always focusing exclusively on the task at hand. When on a phone call, for example, don’t browse emails or file paperwork. Before switching to a new task, make sure that you can mark the previous one as “complete.”
Having the ability to effectively manage your time will make you a major standout in the banking industry. In addition to obtaining a good education, excellent time management skills are among the most important that any banker can possess, so make sure to prioritize them.
