Setting Priorities

 

It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants.  The question is:  What are we busy about?
-Henry David Thoreau

 

"Superiority or rank, position or privilege.  A preferential rating.  Something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives."    Webster, 1995


On a scale from 1 to 5, please rate how each question describes you.

   1                    2                    3                    4                    5
Not at all                                                                       Hey, this is me

_____ 1. When I have multiple things to do, I make a rational decision on which should take precedence based on my priorities for the day.
_____ 2.  I have set long and short-term goals, and I set my priorities on the achievement of these goals.
_____ 3. I plan for time in  my day to handle unforeseen crises.
_____ 4.  I set long-term goals, and then plan the details of what needs to be accomplished in short-term attainable objectives.
_____ 5. When dealing with expectations of several people, I involve them in prioritizing the workload.

Sound familiar?  Did you score low numbers on the quiz above?  If so, you probably already know that you struggle in setting priorities in your life!  Check out a few of the references noted below to help you reach your goals through prioritizing.



All priorities are not 'number-one' priorities; learn to discriminate.
If you aim at  nothing, you're sure to get nothing.
"When all is said and done, it's a question of knowing where you want to go, planning the best way to get there, and controlling events to conform to the plan." -Appley (Mackenzie)
By connecting with your priorities, dull tasks can seem pleasant.


 

  1. Recognize low-priority work and ignore it whenever possible.
  2. Plan your work, and work your plan.
  3. Identify priorities by ranking your objectives in order of importance.
  4. Lower the possibility of interruption-by-crises, use past experiences to identify potential problems.

 


For additional information about balancing work/life, check out the OSU Leadership Center website.

Some resources we recommend are:

The 80/20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More with Less
    Richard Koch.  Currency Publishing Company, 1998
    Includes:

Creating a Personal Plan, p. 146

The Procrastinator’s Handbook
    Rita Emmett.  Walker & Co., 2000
    Includes:

Good Quotes on Crisis and Procrastination, p. 52
Planning Process, pp. 139-144
Planning Quotes, p. 146

The Time Trap
   Alec Mackenzie.  AMACOM, 1990.
    Includes: 

Goal Setting Process,  pp. 30-31
Priority-Setting Matrix, p. 37
Crisis Management Information and Quiz, pp.57-63
Inability to Say No Information and Quiz, pp. 123-127

 If you would like to borrow these or other resources from the OSU Leadership Center, please click on the logo  


Home   Creating Balance  Making Decisions   Dealing with Interruptions   Organizing   Managing Procrastination  

 
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