[Posted on behalf of Archie Jackson Senior Director and Head of IT & IS Incedo Inc.]
Over the years, most of my friends and colleagues have expressed curiosity to understand about how I manage my time and remain committed to my work, family, friends, social acquaintance and still maintain to keep an hour or two of 'me' time. All within the 24 hours of the day.
In 2003, a leader I worked with introduced me to the principle of Urgent & Important (Must Do, Could Do, Should Do) and mentored me in prioritization. 17 years since then and I have been practicing it efficiently and able to manage priorities effectively.
Its One-Life and work, family, friends, social and self all are part of it in some portion. Urgency and Importance may change every next day because life around us is VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous), spending 15 minutes of the day (or a day before) to distinguish the priorities out of the huge pile of to-dos or bucket list may help you start your day head-on. Prioritization has also enabled me to be self motivated as priorities of the day are a mix of work, family, social and self. A mix of variety.
I also always keep a 20% capacity to attempt and welcome opportunities floating in the atmosphere. We can only do that if we learn how to prioritize what we have in hand, failing which we may end up overloaded and unproductive.
I continue to sharpen the saw and this enables me with very few instances where prioritization and de-prioritization happens super quick.
Each day, I have 3 to 5 priorities > 5 to 8 Important action items > and 8 to 20 To-Dos/wish-list ....
Maintaining the above keeps me stress free and smiling. (I prefer to smile even if situations are unfavorable or marching with stress towards...)
Eisenhower's Principle of distinguishing what is urgent, important and prioritizing from it.
No alt text provided for this image
The principle helps us divides tasks into four quadrants on the X & Y axis of Urgency vs Importance:
Not Urgent & Not Important
Urgent but not Important
Important but not Urgent
Urgent & Important
No alt text provided for this image
In 2003, a leader I worked with introduced me to the principle of Urgent & Important (Must Do, Could Do, Should Do) and mentored me in prioritization. 17 years since then and I have been practicing it efficiently and able to manage priorities effectively.
Its One-Life and work, family, friends, social and self all are part of it in some portion. Urgency and Importance may change every next day because life around us is VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous), spending 15 minutes of the day (or a day before) to distinguish the priorities out of the huge pile of to-dos or bucket list may help you start your day head-on. Prioritization has also enabled me to be self motivated as priorities of the day are a mix of work, family, social and self. A mix of variety.
I also always keep a 20% capacity to attempt and welcome opportunities floating in the atmosphere. We can only do that if we learn how to prioritize what we have in hand, failing which we may end up overloaded and unproductive.
I continue to sharpen the saw and this enables me with very few instances where prioritization and de-prioritization happens super quick.
Each day, I have 3 to 5 priorities > 5 to 8 Important action items > and 8 to 20 To-Dos/wish-list ....
Maintaining the above keeps me stress free and smiling. (I prefer to smile even if situations are unfavorable or marching with stress towards...)
Eisenhower's Principle of distinguishing what is urgent, important and prioritizing from it.
No alt text provided for this image
The principle helps us divides tasks into four quadrants on the X & Y axis of Urgency vs Importance:
Not Urgent & Not Important
Urgent but not Important
Important but not Urgent
Urgent & Important
No alt text provided for this image
If we aim to divide our daily priorities and tasks into the above four quadrants, we would surely find lot of opportunities with the time we could save out of it.
Comments