How to Prioritize Tasks

For anyone in a leadership or management position, time management is a key skill. Part of an effective time management strategy is the ability to prioritize tasks. At the end of the article you will be able to assign individual priorities using a using a simple and consistent method. This, simplicity and consistency, is the essence of leadership skills or management training.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen and paper.
• For numerous priorities a word processor or spreadsheet will help.

1. Create your list of things to do or things that must receive a priority. This could take a while so don't be hasty. Make sure your list is as complete as can be. Try to do this during a time when you won't be disturbed. As this is basic time management training, you want to get the most out of it.

2. Study each item on your list and assign it to one of the three categories below.
   
   Need To Do. These are items that absolutely have to happen. Not doing them is not an option. Failure to complete them can have a catastrophic impact. Example: You need to implement a critical time management program coupled with basic management training.
   
   Good To Do. These are things that should happen because they will help in making the task or mission a success. Not doing them will possibly have minor consequences, but it won't be catastrophic. Example: The time management and basic management training coursework could come with a CD copy to allow online reading.
   
   Nice To Do. These are the things that should happen because they feel good. They likely have no real impact on success or failure. This might be the bells and whistles part of what is going on. Example: The time management and basic management training coursework could come with a CD copy to allow online reading and be leather bound.

3. Review your prioritized list and note the time you spent making it. Each item on your list is in one of three major categories and you are able to quickly go to work on the most important items. You will validate that time spent with more time being saved as you get to work putting the most important items first.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a down and dirty method to quickly pick the items that demand attention right now and must be done. It works all by itself, but works best when paired with the intermediate and advanced process.
• Never allow yourself to be dominated by the list. Instead remember that the list exists to serve your need to be organized. Change it as needs change.

[pegwinn]

on 2/24/2009 LOL, what gave it away?

[2besure]

on 2/23/2009 Ok you were a Marine, right?

[labellefleur100]

on 2/9/2009 As a teacher I see a lot of these problems. Students just don't know how to organize themselves. Great idea! 5*

[mariamystar33]

on 2/8/2009 great advice!

[ByDezin]

on 1/29/2009 Fantastic way to sit down to figure out priorities. Easy approach and excellent methodology. 5*