Prioritizing tasks is an essential skill for maximizing productivity and efficiency, both individually and collectively. By following the right methods and adopting effective routines, you can turn a long list of tasks into a clear, achievable action plan. This article explores best practices for prioritizing tasks, based on recognized time management principles.

The importance of prioritization

In a professional context where tasks are numerous and emergencies frequent, knowing how to prioritize is crucial. Prioritization allows you to :

• Determine which activities have the greatest impact and devote yourself to them.
• Optimize the use of available resources, both human and material, and therefore better manage your schedule.
• Maintain serenity by avoiding mental overload due to an accumulation of unprocessed tasks.

For example, if you have three projects to complete, but only one is due this week, concentrate on that one before starting on the others.

Prioritization methods

There are a number of tools and methods that can help you prioritize tasks in your workday or week:

The Eisenhower Matrix

This matrix classifies tasks according to urgency and importance. It helps you identify which tasks need to be prioritized, delegated or eliminated. For example, an urgent and important task, such as responding to a key customer, should be dealt with immediately. Conversely, a non-urgent, non-important task, such as organizing digital files, can be scheduled for later or delegated.

SMARTObjectives

Defining specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound objectives helps clarify short- and long-term priorities. Don't set vague objectives such as"improve customer service". Instead, define it as follows: "Reduce customer response time by 20% by the end of the quarter".

Timeboxing

This technique involves allocating specific blocks of time for each task. It ensures that important tasks get the attention they need. For example, set aside two hours every morning to work on a strategic report without interruptions.

Pitfalls to avoid

When everything seems urgent and important, prioritization becomes a tricky exercise. Here are a few tips to help you arbitrate:

• Distinguish between urgency and importance: an urgent task is not necessarily important. It's crucial to focus first on tasks that have a significant impact on long-term objectives. Answering a non-urgent email may be less important than preparing a presentation for a strategic meeting.
• Use arbitration principles: define clear decision criteria to guide the choice of tasks to be processed first. If one of your core values is customer satisfaction, give priority to tasks that contribute directly to improving that satisfaction.
• Avoid the pitfalls of overload: limit the number of priorities to avoid spreading yourself too thin and losing efficiency. Instead of trying to complete ten tasks in a day, concentrate on the three most important and do them well.

Creating productive routines

Routines are a key element in maintaining a constant focus on important tasks. Here are a few tips for integrating effective routines into your daily routine:

• Set aside time slots for high value-added tasks: set aside specific time each week to work on the most crucial activities. For example, set aside every Wednesday afternoon to work on the company's long-term strategy.
• Share your priorities: clearly communicate your objectives and priorities with your team to align collective efforts. Every Monday morning, you can send your team an email detailing your priorities for the week.
• Regularly review and adjust your diary: take stock every week to adjust priorities according to developments and unforeseen events. For example, set aside 30 minutes every Friday afternoon to assess the tasks accomplished and plan for the following week.

To go a step further on the subject of focus, discover the dedicated NUMA resource kit.

Helping others prioritize

As a manager or colleague, it's also important to help others prioritize effectively. This can be done in a variety of ways.

Individual coaching

Individual coaching is a powerful method for helping employees develop their priority management skills.

By asking open-ended questions, a manager or coach can guide employees towards a better understanding of their priorities. For example, asking"What are the three most important tasks you have to accomplish this week?" invites employees to reflect on the impact and urgency of their missions. This approach helps to clarify key objectives and identify essential tasks aligned with corporate goals. It also facilitates the elimination or delegation of less important tasks, thus optimizing the use of time and resources.

Collective task analysis

Hold brainstorming sessions to determine collective priorities and align everyone on common goals. These sessions encourage open collaboration. Each member can share their perspectives and ideas, improving understanding of issues and priorities.

At team meetings, discuss current projects and decide together which ones should be given priority. This ensures that all voices are heard, and strengthens team cohesion by working towards shared goals. This collective approach makes it easier to identify potential obstacles and allocate resources efficiently.

Prioritizing tasks is an essential skill for navigating a complex and dynamic business environment. By using the right tools and methods, creating productive routines and helping others to prioritize, it's possible to transform the way we approach our daily work. The key is to remain flexible, constantly reassess priorities and commit to focusing on what really matters.

To find out more, take a look at the NUMA focus path to help you tackle these issues.