Some of my top-performing clients and associates have:
The “To-Don’t” List:
Stop doing
Less of
Than the traditional “to-do:”
Start doing
More of
Bonus, I know a few characteristics of successful leaders: a vision that resonates; active vs. passive communication; collaboration with stakeholders; ability to assemble a team that is active vs. passive, effective, and collaborative; level-headed in a crisis; demonstrates integrity and character.
Build Your Own List
Take ten minutes this week and write four short lists:
- Stop doing: tasks that don’t move your business forward, like checking email every few minutes.
- Do less of: low-value activities you can’t drop entirely, like unscheduled drop-in meetings.
- Start doing: the habit you know you need, like a daily prospecting block.
- Do more of: what’s already working, like handwritten notes to past clients.
Leaders Need One Too
Leaders often have the longest to-do lists and the shortest to-don’t lists. A few worth adding:
- Stop doing: solving problems your agents can solve. Ask what they think first.
- Do less of: back-to-back meetings with no agenda.
- Start doing: protected time each week for recruiting and coaching.
- Do more of: one-on-one conversations with the agents you’d hate to lose.
Review your list once a month. Saying no to the wrong things is how you make room for the right ones.
Most people only write the to-do list. The to-don’t list is often where the time comes from.
Framework: This post is part of Action Produces Data, the coaching framework for consistent production: take the next right action, track it and let the results, not opinions, guide what you do next.
Want help applying this in your brokerage? Book a 30-minute conversation with Mark at calendly.com/mjsession.
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