Prioritizing tasks can be challenging, especially when every single one seems urgent. You may be dealing with pressures from different angles as well and conflicting demands. If you learn to prioritize effectively, however, this can be a great asset in any role. Whether you’re a team leader or have an entry-level position, improving the way you manage your workload can help you progress in your career. It also takes a lot of the stress out of working. Here are a few ways you can ensure you effectively prioritize tasks at work.
Start with a detailed list of your tasks
First of all, you need to compile a list of your tasks. You can arrange this in a way that works best for you. A good method is to break projects down into tasks or group tasks for different departments or areas of your work. You then need to make a note of all the relevant details that could affect how you prioritize these tasks. These could include the other people involved, any necessary resources, and estimated timeframe. You can write your task list on paper or on a digital calendar, whatever you prefer, as long as you have notes to refer to.
Measure tasks according to importance and urgency
Once you’ve compiled a list of tasks you can then use popular methods to measure them according to importance and urgency. You could create a decision matrix, for example. This will help you weigh up all the relevant factors in order to choose which task to take on. Tasks can either be urgent or important. Urgency is more related to the deadline whereas important tasks are relevant to your business’s success in some way.
Develop your organizational skills
If you enjoy prioritizing tasks and managing complex projects. You could consider developing your skills in this area. By studying a masters in project management, for example, you will learn new methods and techniques. This could open many doors for you in the future, and will teach you how to be productive in any role.
Set aside distraction-free time
If you have a list of smaller tasks to do or ones that can be done within the working day with minimal involvement from others, you could set aside a block of time for these. Use one of the latest work management tools to clear an afternoon in your calendar, for instance, as distraction-free. Don’t book any meetings or take on other tasks until you’ve completed the ones you’ve assigned to this period.
Communicate your priorities
Communication is key if you want to improve productivity. Ensure your staff or superiors are aware of the tasks you have to complete and update them on your progress. If you manage a team, get plenty of feedback on their progress as well. You can use the latest in cloud-based communication tools to do this. If you find ways to effectively prioritize tasks at work, you can then use your experience to inspire others to do the same.