Our SODA stars shine

Tania Cek, Chief Financial Officer at Ray White Ferntree Gully

Writing things down on a to-do list helps me in several ways. It clears mental clutter, freeing up brain space so I can focus on execution instead of remembering tasks. It boosts accountability - seeing tasks in writing makes them feel more real and actionable. It prioritises work and helps you focus on what truly matters instead of getting lost in busywork. It provides a sense of progress, checking off completed tasks is satisfying and keeps motivation high

Jo Madden, General Manager at Ray White Maroochydore

The best productivity tip I can give is a simple one. I try to start my day with the hardest or most important task. Getting this out of the way first thing, makes everything else feel easier.

Alana Saunders, Business Manager at Ray White Manukau

Our administration team has recently adopted Monday.com for managing our listing workflow. Centralising our process has made it significantly easier to coordinate listings across our four offices and the automation features have reduced the need for back-and-forth emails between the team that clog up our inboxes. Our shared dashboard means that if someone is on leave or away sick, another team member can jump right in and easily see exactly what tasks are due to be completed.

Kristie Sibbald, Operations Manager at Ray White Rural Tamborine Mountain

Batching similar tasks - it sounds basic, but grouping related tasks together and tackling them all at once makes a huge difference. It minimizes the mental load of switching between different types of work. For example, instead of checking emails or accounts throughout the day, I set a specific time to complete these tasks each day where I am focusing solely on one task at a time. I find it reduces any mistakes and makes arranging my days so much easier.

Fiona Schmidt-Lee, Operations Manager at RWC Toowoomba

We write the procedures for each position in operations. This has then been translated to a task list in Monday.com for each stage of the listing cycle. It has allowed us to streamline our processes and enables anyone in our team to pick up a task and complete it.

Trent Dudley, Operations Manager at Ray White Prospect

I keep an active list of goals and creative ideas to ensure I’m always working towards something. When/if a project stalls (if it needs the all clear from another party), I simply pivot to another task on my list to maintain momentum. It's particularly important to include fun, exciting projects in my plan to overcome the initial hurdle of getting started - because sometimes the hardest part is simply taking that first step.

Angela Paranchi, General Manager at Ray White Lower North Shore Group

My biggest tip is making a habit of planning each day, the afternoon or evening before, allowing me to deliver on the required commitments and allowing time for all the little items that pop up throughout the day. I also prioritise my health and fitness each morning which gives me a fresh perspective and focus daily.

Kerry Suthers, General Manager at Ray White Cairns | Cairns Beaches

I collate daily/weekly/monthly lists of important tasks to complete. This helps to identify my own and differing departments key priorities, providing an overview to assist with planning and goal setting. My lists are reviewed regularly and priorities updated depending on the day to day operations and requirements of the business.

I follow policies, procedures and checklists, so that aspects do not get missed or overlooked.

I set specific times/days for tasks, with reminders and events in google calendars, Monday.com, and Vault. This also assists with productivity.

Maddy Corrigan, General Manager at Ray White Double Bay

I make sure I get my critical thinking heavy work done first thing in the day when I've got more energy, and leave meetings and face-to-face appointments for the afternoons. I'm an extrovert, I get energy from being around people, so I like to use that natural advantage at the times when my energy is otherwise low.

If I'm ever feeling overwhelmed with the amount of tasks I have, I stop and re-centre, and list the tasks that are making me feel most anxious/behind, then tackle those first. Eat the frog - do the challenging tasks first to clear your mental load.

Dominique Merriman, Operations and Compliance at Ray White Upper North Shore

One of my ultimate productivity hacks is leveraging our workflow automation across our business. We crosstrain according to the skillset of our employees to minimise double handling. I have rolled out our own 'Upper North Shore and Northern Beaches' web based portal where I have placed all our frequently used documents. This allows me to direct our team to the portal and also allows them the ability to access this information on the run. We also have specific whatsapp groups set up based on the department. Information sharing allows for effective and timely communication.