Insights | Prioritization

Read why you should not use "time" as a prioritization key and how to ensure that you are always working on what is most important.

If you have been involved in prioritization, you may have experienced using "time" as a prioritization key. This means prioritizing by creating a plan where the most important tasks are done first and the least important ones are done last. It makes a lot of sense to work on what is most important first. However, it doesn't make as much sense to have a plan where we have decided to do something that is not important in the distant future.

Sometimes we do it to avoid forgetting things, but regardless of the reason, it can have some negative effects:

A very long plan or to-do list can make us constantly feel behind or like the goal is very far away.

Moreover, it can hinder initiative and creativity because a large chunk of time is already filled up.

Lastly, it's not particularly motivating to look at tasks that seem less and less important.

If you want to make room for initiative and be able to act on opportunities that arise along the way, you should avoid "locking in" and placing everything on a timeline.

Instead, ensure that you are always working on what is most important. You can do this by parking everything you're not currently working on in a job or idea bank. From there, you can continually select the tasks that create the most value and are most achievable based on the available resources. This ensures that you're consistently working efficiently on what is most likely to yield the greatest rewards. Additionally, the method ensures that you never overlook a golden opportunity, regardless of when it arises.

With the Benelizer® solution, you have a simple and automated solution where all the possibilities are continuously assessed based on relevant criteria by the relevant individuals. The result is an effective strategy execution.