Petra Sršňová
Author of this article
Do not waste your precious time on something that does not bring you anything, instead focus your attention on what is important! How to do it?
Importance points out how the task contributes to meeting the set goals (personal or corporate). It answers the question of what positive benefits will come by doing the job. Urgency only highlights how the matter is in a hurry and till when someone thinks it has to be done.
Eisenhower’s principle is the technique of prioritizing tasks within the framework of self-organizing the decision-making of the manager (typically the top manager). It is one of the methods of time management, which is also usable in everyday life.
The essence of this method is to divide your activities into four quadrants:
- Quadrant – all that is important and urgent – all activities in this quadrant need to be done as quickly as possible, these are emergency situations and urgent problems – such as imminent danger, compliance with promised terms etc. First importance tasks. Do them now.
- Quadrant – everything that is important but not urgent – basically it is about preventing crisis situations before they arise (if the manager does not focus on them, they can easily move to the first quadrant) – e.g. planning, daily tasks, task control Tasks you must plan or they´ll become urgent → 1.
- Quadrant – all that is unimportant but urgent – urgent and unexpected disturbance – e.g. unimportant emails, phone calls, etc. (can be delegated!) Tasks to be delegated. Not added-value tasks.
- Quadrant – everything that is unimportant and not urgent! – activities that are in a disproportionate manner simply waste of time! E.g. useless time on social networks, excessive communication with colleagues, etc. Tasks to be eliminated or they´ll become urgent → 3.
For illustration please see the picture below:
How to use it?
- Think about how you spend your time.
- Write down your activities into individual quadrants, be concrete.
- Look at your quadrants and think about the following questions:
- Do I spend too much/too little time somewhere?
- Is everything so urgent/important?
- Can I eliminate or delete some activities from the 4th quadrant?
- Do I have control over my time? Can I delegate something?
- Do I have any everyday habits that I could change or delete?
- Where are the opportunities for me?
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at info@petrasrsnova.cz.
By Petra Sršňová
Petra Sršňová is a professional coach, lecturer and Senior HR consultant who enjoys revealing clients potential through business and life coaching and NLP methods. With more than 12 years of managerial experience, (from running her own company through working as a manager in M&A business), Petra helps clients (managers/leaders) reach their goals and visions, increase results, improve their capabilities, overcome their limits, find their worklife balance, manage their time better etc. In her articles she is sharing with us interesting and applicable methods and technics from coaching and NLP (neuro-lingvistic programming) world which make your life and work more effective, balanced and simply easier.
She is a fan of neuro science, curious how the brain works and how our habits from the past limits us, always finding a way to change the set up. Petra studied the business management and corporate finances and visited many production companies in the czech republic and abroad as a manager in mergers and acquisitions field. Interested in a personal growth for more than 10 years.