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Vox Pop: What we talk about when we talk about "priority"
Merlin Mann | Feb 12 2007
Since the Bronze Age of personal productivity, conventional wisdom has taught us the importance of priority in deciding how to plan and use our time. And, in the abstract, anyhow, that notion of putting your time and attention into those things that are the most valuable to you seems so "obvious" as to be a tautology, where "productivity = acting on priorities." (Of course, whether people's execution of the things they claim are important always maps to their stated intentions is another matter for But, we can probably agree that in the post-Lakein world of productivity and time management, everything from Covey's Quadrants to the Pareto Principle to the four criteria to -- what? I dunno -- firewalking, has been used to help us train our attention on the things that need us most and provide the greatest value in our world. Priority. But, in practice, what the hell does "priority" really mean? I come at this from the angle of a GTD fan, in the sense that I try (try, mind you) to see priority as one of several factors that govern where my time can and should go. But, it's no secret that even the most diehard GTD fan struggles with how to execute a busy day during which this and this and this and, oh crap, **that** all need to be done as soon as possible. How do you manage it all? Well, one way is to apply some of the many affordances that various productivity tools offer: priority stuff is big, and it's red, and it's bold, it's at the very top of the list, and it's stuck on a sticky note in the middle of the monitor; anything to make sure we don't lose our most important work in the lights. So my question to you guys: what does "priority" really mean to you in practice (not theory)? Does it represent the highest value item in your world -- that for which you will reject other work? Is it the thing that's currently causing the most stress and anxiety? Or is it the thing that you're the most behind on and are therefore the most horribly embarrassed about? What makes you set an item's priority to the "high" setting, and then how does that help it to get done faster? Does priority planning ever fail you? I've got my own theories, but I want to hear what you guys think in comments. (And, of course, my apologies to the late Raymond Carver.) 40 Comments
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 I'm with Laura M and...Submitted by Will (not verified) on February 14, 2007 - 1:21am.
I'm with Laura M and the others who posted that the most important task is the one at hand and setting priorities for tasks leads to inefficiencies and delays. If a task is needed to deliver on a commitment, it is priority 1. If not, it's priority 0. And I try to do the tasks I am committed to as efficiently as possible (batching by context or type of task, matching to energy levels, etc etc). My experience is that if you try to work tasks by priority, the low priority tasks just NEVER get done until they become high priority. Ususally, they become higher priority as deadlines approach So in the end, EVERYTHING is firefighting. The only way to prioritise around this this would be to make the LEAST urgent tasks the top priority. I've never managed to summon the intestinal fortitude to try this. Where you do need to pay CLOSE attention to priority is in deciding which commitments to accept or decommit. Whilst this isn't always obvious, I try to focus on: - things that other people can't do as well or as easily as me - things that make me grow (skills, knowledge, extended network of contacts, deeper relationship with contacts, inner strength, reputation) - things that just need to be done and no-one else is picking up - fun - my manager/ team's priorities - what I am paid for! - things that are quick and easy Not necessarily in that order all of the time! And not necessarily complied with all of the time. This post is no part of any commitment. I am an undisciplined wretch. Regards, Will » POSTED IN:
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