How to Assign Priorities (Advanced)– Effective Leadership

As an effective Leader you must juggle competing priorities that may all be equal on the surface. When you complete this article you will be able to take a list of competing priorities and “break the tie” in a logical manner. This process works in business and will also help you deconflict your personal life priority conflicts as well. You will now have a pinpoint focus on doing exactly what needs doing along with all the other benefits of the basic and intermediate articles.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• You need either pen and paper, however a word processor or a spreadsheet will be far more effective.

1. Break out the list you created in the previous articles into groups of identical ratings. So, all items marked “Need to Do, Urgent/Important” would be one group.

2. Create a simple matrix which has one row for every item in the group . Then create columns to match the rows. If you had six items the matrix would be 6x6

3. Place one item in row one and again in column one. Then row two and column two etc etc. The order you place them is not important. What is important is that the fifth row matches the fifth column header.

4. 
   Intersection Points

   At each intersection point write or type the number zero.

5. Now, starting with the first row, compare that priority with the others listed in the columns. If the item in the first row “outranks” the item in the column, write or type a greater than “>” symbol or the number 1. If it is less important write or type a less than “<” symbol or a zero. Since each item is technically equal, your gut is what will decide which is greater than the others. This matrix ensures that you will rate each item individually against all the others.

6. 
   Matching the Rows and Columns

   To speed the process you will place the same symbols down the columns as well.

7. 
   Letting it all play out

   Starting with the first row, count all the “>” symbols or 1's from left to right and record the number. After you count all rows you will be able to sort your list from greatest to least. The priority with the highest count is the “winner”.

Tips & Warnings

• A spreadsheet, like in the pix, will keep count and make your final sorting easier.
• You can keep a running matrix going in a spreadsheet by deleting and adding rows as priorities are accomplished or created.
• This is also a great general comparison tool. Use it to compare the value of things you cannot quantify with numbers or a consistent process.
• Things change. Don't be married to this tool.

[ByDezin]

on 1/29/2009 Great finalization tips and steps! Love the expansion on the basic and intermediate, pulling it all full circle. Wonderful series ~ 5*

[VirtualWorker]

on 1/27/2009 Very interesting read. Five stars! Stop by my member page to visit anytime.

VirtualWorker

[ChrisReasner]

on 1/25/2009 Perfection :), I expected nothing less. Another article that delivers results, you just have to be willing to put the time in to make it work.