If you are looking to effectively manage your workload or personal goals; or a manager with many priorities to juggle; or a business owner with decisions to make on what product, service or market; it can seem slightly overwhelming at times trying to make the right decision with limited time and resources.
The following are six tools from simple to technical that can help you make better decisions, manage your time, and prioritise more effectively.
- Clearly stated vision and goals
Knowing what to prioritise starts with having a clear vision or picture of what you want, where you want to go, and why it is important to you, and also ensuring your goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Time-framed). This will help keep you focused what is important in line with your goals and making the right decisions. Get more information Business Goals Setting or Free eBook on Setting SMART Goals
- Pareto Principle and Analysis
This principle – also known as the 80:20 Rule – suggests that by focusing on your topmost (20%) important items, you are able to gain the most benefits or results (80%). A simple approach to applying this principle is: List of all items that need to be done, prioritise in order of what is most critical and important, and focus your effort on the top 20% or more of your list. For more info on Business Application or for Personal/Business Application
- Action Priority Matrix
This one has always stuck in my mind – not everything that is urgent is important, and not everything that is important is urgent. And that is why prioritisation is important. Both individuals and organisations are able to use this tool to can quickly spot critical items, quick wins or low priority items to help best plan and allocate their time. For more information on Business Application or for Personal/Business Application
- Decision Matrix Analysis
This can be used in a variety of ways to make decisions on what tasks to focus on or decision to make. With this tool, you can prioritise a list of tasks that need to be completed while at the same time taking a variety of factors i.e. cost and time into consideration. Get More Information
- Ansoff Matrix and the Boston Matrices
This is mainly a marketing and management tool to help prioritise the right business service, product or market to focus on. And can also be used to make career type of decisions. Both are extremely similar in nature and lead to similar types of result. It can help you:
- Evaluate and prioritise opportunities based on level of risk
- Prioritise opportunities based on the attractiveness of any particular market and how likely you’ll be able to take advantage of it
For more information: Business Application or Personal/Business Application
- Your Trusted Calendar and Task List
This can either be a physical paper calendar/task list or smartphone function that provides a physical reminder of what you need to focus on a daily basis. Smartphones come with a task list app such as ‘Reminders’ that can help you manage and schedule your activities. Some of the popular apps today are Evernote (free and premium plans available), Any.Do (free), and Remember the Milk (free).
To learn about Yvonne’s latest book on Changing your Mindset for greater results, visit http://www.oliveblue.com/changeyourmindset/
Yvonne is an Author, Speaker, Change Consultant & John Maxwell Leadership Coach who is passionate about working with Individuals, Entrepreneurs and Organisations to provide the tools and help implement change, drive results and achieve their goals. She can be reached at: www.oliveblue.com . www.facebook.com/oliveblueinc . www.twitter.com/oliveblueinc.www.youtube.com/ChangeYouWantTV