I’m a believer that there isn’t one correct way to organize your priorities to meet your goals. Many great organizational systems are on the market, and it’s up to you to choose what works best for you.
One critical factor is that your system needs to align with your goals. Leaders who have specific departmental goals that link directly with profitability, for example, know that one major glitch can trigger a nasty ripple effect when one important deadline is missed.
Be mindful that the system that got you to where you are now isn’t necessarily the one that will serve you best as additional complexity seeps into your world. When this happens, it’s probably time to make modifications that will help you stay on top of your objectives.
When everything seems urgent, pause and prioritize. You might need to change how and what you delegate or step up your direct supervision of people and projects. You will feel more on top of your game if you stay proactive, not reactive. And this can’t happen unless you prioritize effectively.
The modifications you make don’t need to be huge. Remember the expression, “Little hinges swing big doors”? For example, when you need to keep track of many small deadlines during an intensely short period of time, you might create a color-coded spreadsheet.
It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but using color to identify the people responsible for different tasks can create a helpful visual aid. Aside from knowing who is accountable for specific goals, you can get a quick overview of which of your staff is overloaded or may be creating a bottleneck in the big picture.
Remember: there isn’t one right way to do this. Your right way is the one that aligns your goals directly with optimal results. Experiment with different “little hinges”, and let me know you what’s working for you.
Have a great week!
