When firms go to a finance industry

recruiter to find a financial advisor for

their firm, there are two categories of

skills that they look for.

First, they seek out the tangibles-- an

appropriate education and level of

licensing, and an expected level of

experience for the given position.

There is also a second level of skills, the

intangibles, that can go a long way for

an employee to get chosen.

Often, those who are promoted ahead

of the usual advancement skills are high

in the intangibles.

These can include positive demeanor

and/or emotional intelligence, ability to

work with difficult people, work ethic,

willingness to listen to others both

above and below them, and productivity.

Though some of these skills are difficult

to teach, others, like productivity, can

be improved by making some good,

conscious choices.

If you are someone who is looking to

boost productivity, and your future

career prospects, give these

techniques a try:

Learn Your Baseline

In order to discover whether you are

improving your skills, first you need to

know your current productivity rates.

If all of your work is on a computer, you

can set a timer for jobs, or even find

productivity software online.

One benefit to this is that it gives a

better idea of your natural rate of work,

as you aren't hyper focused on the

amount of time it is taking.

Set a Goal and Celebrate its Achievement

Studies show that setting a series of

small, achievable goals is a

consistently successful strategy in

conquering long-term goals.

This strategy has been implemented in

therapy, in twelve-step programs, and is

a great way to up your productivity in

stages without getting discouraged.

As you achieve smaller goals, reward

yourself. Make the rewards increasingly

bigger- a new item you want to buy, a

night on the town, a vacation, etc.

This makes the reward even sweeter,

and you more likely to follow through.

Curb Distractions

If you want to be more productive at

work, consider the things that are

currently slowing you down.

If you do internet research, do side

ventures into tangents catch you in

the web vortex?

Is your office space too noisy or too

quiet? Do you have trouble sitting

still? Identify your target issues, and

find simple ways to fix them.

Internet side-searches can be slowed

by installing software that will block

the time-suck sites of your choice

during working hours.

A pair of noise cancelling

headphones, with or without music,

can help the noise level in the office.

A standing desk (or newfangled treadmill

desk) can stop issues with sitting still.

Look at your Diet

Are you getting adequate levels of water

and nourishing foods in your diet?

Consider a supplement and more hydration

if you think that your diet is subpar.

It is amazing how much of a difference that

water can make. Avoid too much sugar and

caffeine without protein to counteract it,

unless you want to face an afternoon slump.

Take a Walk

If you find that you have a certain time of day

that is consistently your low-production time,

use that time for a fifteen-minute walk instead

of a coffee break.

This will wake up your body and your mind.

A large glass of water afterwards, and you

will be surprised at the difference.

Mindfulness

The practice of meditation has been

shown to keep people, more than any

other practice, in the here and now rather

than off in their heads.

It has been shown to actually change

certain neurochemistry in a positive way

and boost productivity as a result.

Apps are available online that allow

you to practice this for ten minutes a

day and try it out.

Planning to apply for a new job?

Speak with the experienced financial

advisor recruiters of Willis Consulting Inc.

They can help you land the position

you want.

See our open positions at

www.willis-consulting.com

Willis Consulting, Inc.

Los Angeles Office: Corporate Headquarters

719 Yarmouth Road, Suite 203

Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274

310-373-7400 PST

Scottsdale Office

8970 E Raintree Drive

Suite #300

Scottsdale AZ 85260

New York Office

244 5th Avenue, Suite 1855

New York NY 10001

212-726-2041 PST