Setting Right Priorities

The Purpose of Setting Priorities

Priorities are about:

Making time to attend to important matters

Getting tasks done

Keeping track of tasks to monitor progress

Challenges in Setting Priorities

Understanding goals &

expectations

Assign list of all tasks &

determine “must-do” items

Scope

Timeline

Relationships – consider involving

others in completion of efforts

Defining Goals

“Begin with the end in mind” – Stephen Covey

Determine the desired end result

Set short-term objectives for achieving goals

Adjust objectives as conditions change

Prioritizing

Rank tasks in order of importance

Build in-time for the unexpected

Leave time for thinking and planning

Remain flexible

Realize you won’t finish everything

Prime Time

When do you have the

most energy?

When are there fewest

interruptions?

When can you

schedule private time?

Procrastination

Break a large job down

into smaller parts

Do the easy parts first

Time yourself

Punish yourself

Reward yourself

Tips for Productive Meetings

Attend only essential meetings

Come prepared and participate effectively

When you are chairing a meeting

Choose a good time

Impose a time limit

Set a reasonable agenda

The Art of Priority Management

Get to meetings early so you can compose yourself before others arrive.

Practice doing just one thing at a time, giving it your full attention.

Pause after you finish one task before beginning another.

Say “No” and mean it:

When the timings just not right

When you have other priorities

When someone suggests something you’d like to consider

In Closing

Time is one of your most

valuable assets

Planning and organization

are the key to priority

management

Eliminating time thieves

allows you to accomplish

essential tasks

Control your schedule

instead of being controlled

by it