Setting Right Priorities

1. Setting Right Priorities

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Prime Time • When do you have the most energy? • When are there fewest interruptions? • When can you schedule private time?

7. Procrastination • Break a large job down into smaller parts • Do the easy parts first • Time yourself • Punish yourself • Reward yourself

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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