Tips for Choosing the Right Tasks for the Right Time and the Right Person
In a recent post we talked about the importance of identifying the right tasks, or MITs. to work on to maximize your productivity.
MITs (Most Important Tasks) are the tasks that will produce the optimal results and address the most critical issues you face. These are often referred to as “big rocks,” as in the priorities that you first need to place in your “jar” (i.e. complete) before filling other things around it (the metaphorical pebbles, sand and water.)
To do this, consider using the Eisenhower Matrix to guide you.
The Matrix places every task in a quadrant:
“Do” (tasks that are both urgent and important, such as a time-sensitive customer request)
"Plan" (not urgent but important -- this is where your strategic and visionary pieces fit)
"Delegate" (urgent but not important items, such as responding to inbound communication)
"Eliminate" (or at least limit, like time wasters.)
Remember the Pareto principle (also called the 80/20 Rule). which suggests that 80% of our outcomes comes from 20% of our efforts.
Choosing the right place to focus our efforts matters more than we oftentimes think.