4 Methods of Prioritization

Determining how to effectively prioritize your tasks is a critical component of your productivity. When we understand the priority levels of the tasks we’re working on and how to assign time based on these levels, we can rather easily boost productivity and motivation levels. 

It’s likely you could achieve more in the day in less time. It’s important to remember that increased productivity doesn’t always mean adding more to your day and beefing up your to-do list. Sometimes, it just means you’re pushing your goals forward with a little less stress. 

There is a level of self-awareness required to understand how your personality thrives throughout the day which can dictate which prioritization method will work best for you. 

1. Eat The Frog 

   Eat The Frog is simple and straightforward. Do your most complex or most uncomfortable tasks first. Knock them out so the rest of the day can churn along smoothly. You are completing (eating) the most challenging task (the frog). 

   
   This method is based on research that shows that many people are the most effective and efficient in the morning. So by eating the frog first, you are fully leveraging the part of the day where you show the most potential. 

   For those that seem to always have urgent tasks that pop up once they start working or often have morning meetings, this method of prioritization could be counterproductive. The key is to find a method that can be done consistently. If you work out in the middle of the day and experience focus and energy afterward, it may be best to put off your frog tasks until the early afternoon as that is when your effectiveness is at its peak. 

2. ABCDE

   ABCDE prioritization aims to eliminate the false sense of productivity when completing a standard to-do list. Often, we get in the habit of simply writing out a to-do list without understanding the importance of individual tasks. By assigning priority levels to these tasks we can then determine in which order they should be completed. 
   

   A’s: Must Do (directly related to goals)

   B’s: Should Do (has an impact on goals)

   C’s: Nice To Do (adds benefit or enjoyment to day-to-day work)

   D’s: Delegate (avoid overwhelm and pass these along)

   E’s: Eliminate (neither important nor impactful)

   
   Though, this method cannot stand alone. To truly be effective, it should be paired with a time management method such as time blocking. For instance, you could have a regular time block on your calendar on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings for A tasks. 
   
   
   

3. Eisenhower Method 

   The Eisenhower Matrix is an effective way of understanding your to-do list to reduce overwhelm and maximize where you spend your time. The matrix looks at what is important and what is urgent in order to efficiently prioritize tasks.

   Prioritizing your tasks using this matrix means understanding the difference between what is urgent and what is important. 

   Quadrant One: Do It Now

   Tasks in the first quadrant are urgent - so they need to be done as soon as possible - and are important - so they directly affect your long-term success. 

   Quadrant Two: Schedule It

   Tasks in the second quadrant are important but are not urgent. These tasks do not require immediate, make-or-break attention but are still a high priority.
   

   Quadrant Three: Delegate It 

   Tasks in this quadrant are urgent but not important. More specifically, they are not vital to your long-term goals but may contribute to them. 
   

   Quadrant Four: Delete It

   Tasks in this quadrant are not urgent and not important so you need to ask yourself why. These tasks hinder your success and are completely unnecessary.

   Delegating tasks frees up even more energy and time for you to focus. If you're ready for that next-level support, then inquire about a virtual assistant here.  

4. ICE

   Similar to ABCDE, the ICE method scores tasks against specific criteria. While scoring may sound like a task in itself, once you get in the habit of using this type of method, it becomes second nature to look at a to-do list and easily see the ICE scores. 

   
   Impact: How does this task impact goals?

   Confidence: How confident are you that this task will provide X (result) for Y (goal)?

   Ease: How easy or complex is this task? 

   
   
   This type of scoring allows for flexibility within your prioritization to sometimes lean into the easy tasks while other times lean into impactful lessons. To kick it up a notch, add R (RICE) to understand a task's reach or how many people a task may affect. For instance, creating a meeting presentation may have a low impact on a goal but could affect multiple people during a meeting. 

   Your time is a precious resource and your goals, whether they are set for next month or the end of the year, are ultimately on a timeline. Prioritization and time management is a skill that requires consistent attention in order to stay on top of tasks effectively and conquer your goals.