How I Decide What To Work On Next (Prioritisation For Change Managers)

Look, in terms of being effective at work day to day, as far as I’m concerned, being crystal clear on my priorities each day in a really practical, grounded way, is the holy grail.


Clear priorities and knowing exactly what to work on next is especially important for folks like you who are responsible for driving and delivering organisational change, because - like you’ve probably heard me say before - of course, the way you run your day is the way you run the change program.


Change managers and communication specialists often have a huge amount of responsibility on their shoulders, and a massive scope of work they need to manage and deliver.  It’s full on.


I know from personal experience that overwhelm and confusion can be a huge roadblock to actually getting anything useful done on any given day.  


Can you relate?  I bet you can - there’s no shame in it - we’ve all had those days.  For me, the key is catching myself on those days and knowing what to do to come back to clarity as quickly as I can.


That’s why having an easy, effective technique for prioritising your To-Do list is essential.  And that’s also why I’m excited to share the simple method I use to do this with you in today’s episode of The New Way podcast.


I’m sharing exactly how I decide what to work on next.

Get ready to discover:

  • The no-fail method I use to prioritise my work each day

  • Exactly what I had on my own To-Do list the day I recorded this ep

  • The key to reaping the benefits of the method I use (this is where the rubber hits the road!)


To be completely transparent, I’m not perfect with this. It’s something I’m working on practising daily. BUT the days when I do use this method - I’m WAY more productive...



I have a feeling you will be too!


TOPICS DISCUSSED AND WHERE TO FIND THEM:

[1:33]: Summary of every topic I’ve covered under the Productivity for Change Leaders series (scroll down for links to other episodes. 

[2:20]: Everything I’ve talked about in this series comes down to intention. It isn’t just about doing more each day, it’s about giving yourself the tools and space to be intentional in your workplace. 

[3:41]: Being clear on my priorities each day is the holy grail of productivity. The way that you run your day is the way you run your change program. 

[4:33]: I know that overwhelm and confusion can be a roadblock to getting anything useful done. The key for me is having the tools to come back to clarity. 

[6:07]: I use the ABCDE method to prioritise my to-do list. I learned this method from the book ‘Eat that Frog’ by Brian Tracy. It’s easy to remember, comprehensive and is able to be applied quickly. 

[7:27]: Each letter represents a different level of task priority or action to take. A - Most important tasks must be completed immediately. 

[8:34]: B - Tasks that are still important but not as dire. They have less lasting consequences if you don’t get to them today. 

[9:09]: C - Tasks that are nice to do. They aren’t critical in the scheme of things. 

[9:37]: D - Delegate the task to someone else. 

[10:07]: E - Eliminate the task. You don’t actually need to do these at all. 

[11:08]: Grab your to-do list and write a letter next to every task on your list. 

[11:50]: Here’s an example of my to-do list. 

[13:11]: Number each of your A-level tasks in the order that you’re going to complete them. 

[14:24]: Do the same for all of the B, C, and D-level tasks. 

[15:30]: When you start your day, the first thing you’ll do is send emails delegating all of the D-level tasks. Then settle in and begin the A-level tasks in the correct order, eg. A1, A2, A3 etc. 

[16:48]: I know that being disciplined in this way is not easy. There are interruptions and distractions all of the time. Be realistic about how much you can achieve in a single day. 

[17:45]: When I use this method, my day is far more productive than the days when I don’t. 

[17:58]: I use this method in conjunction with the 5D framework, time blocking, and making space for regular thinking time. 

[18:47]: Use what resonates for you and disregard the rest. 

[19:15]: By sharing my strategies, my goal is to help you be impactful with the time you have. Not working longer hours or harder.

LINKS

Episodes mentioned:

Resources mentioned:

Website: https://www.everchange.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatebyrne/

Kate Byrne