Yesterday, I shared one Time Management Prioritization tool for teams, that being the 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. Today I want to reach into Chapter 18 of Reconnecting Workspaces and share a second time management tool, known as the Action Priority Matrix:
Here’s what I share in Reconnecting Workspaces
The Action Priority Matrix259 is an important tool in helping team members decide what is important to focus on, as well as what activities may take time. It gets team members thinking about their activities along the continua of both effort and action (low to high) and priorities (low to high) or alternatively impact and effort. Steven Covey’s work enshrined the Urgency/ Importance Matrix.
If we look to explore the Impact and Effort framework, we can map ideas across these x and y axes.
Consider your current tasks and lay them out and determine whether your actions are:
Quick Wins: Things that are high impact and low effort. Quick wins in a team may mean completing several tasks on your to-do list that you can blow right through. Quick wins are important in creating momentum.
Time Fillers: Time fillers are low priority and low effort. These activities are truly “time fillers” and might include short projects like filing or quick emails. Part of time efficiency is getting these to not take over too much of your calendar. They may also be tasks that are kept in a running list and checked off as and when you have time. Fill-in activities may cycle into activities which have more urgency and could move into quick wins or major projects.
Major Projects: Major projects are high effort and high priority. Like with Covey’s matrix, we want to spend time focusing on these areas, ensuring that resources and time are dedicated to them. Check out Chapter 20 on project management for more on this. Major projects is an area we want to dedicate time and focus on, as it will help us in the bigger picture.
Must Dos: There are activities that are low priority but have to get done. They are things that usually take a lot of time. As important tasks, if they are not completed, team and organizational function may not work well. Activities in this category include administrative reporting or fixes to equipment. While they are important tasks in the bigger picture, due to the amount of time required, they may be activities which we look to delegate.
Here’s what I share in Reconnecting Workspaces
The Action Priority Matrix259 is an important tool in helping team members decide what is important to focus on, as well as what activities may take time. It gets team members thinking about their activities along the continua of both effort and action (low to high) and priorities (low to high) or alternatively impact and effort. Steven Covey’s work enshrined the Urgency/ Importance Matrix.
If we look to explore the Impact and Effort framework, we can map ideas across these x and y axes.
Consider your current tasks and lay them out and determine whether your actions are:
Quick Wins: Things that are high impact and low effort. Quick wins in a team may mean completing several tasks on your to-do list that you can blow right through. Quick wins are important in creating momentum.
Time Fillers: Time fillers are low priority and low effort. These activities are truly “time fillers” and might include short projects like filing or quick emails. Part of time efficiency is getting these to not take over too much of your calendar. They may also be tasks that are kept in a running list and checked off as and when you have time. Fill-in activities may cycle into activities which have more urgency and could move into quick wins or major projects.
Major Projects: Major projects are high effort and high priority. Like with Covey’s matrix, we want to spend time focusing on these areas, ensuring that resources and time are dedicated to them. Check out Chapter 20 on project management for more on this. Major projects is an area we want to dedicate time and focus on, as it will help us in the bigger picture.
Must Dos: There are activities that are low priority but have to get done. They are things that usually take a lot of time. As important tasks, if they are not completed, team and organizational function may not work well. Activities in this category include administrative reporting or fixes to equipment. While they are important tasks in the bigger picture, due to the amount of time required, they may be activities which we look to delegate.
As a team (or even as an individual), ask yourself:
Enjoy the reflection,
Jennifer
- What activities are in each area?
- How much of your time are you spending in each area?
- What changes do you want to make?
Enjoy the reflection,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326
Check out my TEDx talk - Virtual, Remote and Hybrid Checklist
Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326
Check out my TEDx talk - Virtual, Remote and Hybrid Checklist
Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.
RSS Feed
