by Linden | Feb 25, 2020 | Life Coaching Resources
Knowing how to prioritise your daily tasks and demonstrate that you are working effectively is about making timely decisions for where to spend your time and attention on which tasks.
Using a priority matrix tool will help you to focus on the most important priorities. Stephen Covey developed a simple matrix framework for prioritising time and importance of tasks during the 1980’s and the tool is still relevant to use today.
When you use the tool for all your incoming work tasks the decisions about prioritising can be made simple for you by the way that you classify the tasks.
For example, the following categories are placed on the matrix:
1 High importance, High urgency
2 High Importance, Low urgency
3 High urgency, Low importance
4 Low urgency, Low importance
1 High importance, High urgency
- Work on these tasks before they become urgent
- Set clear expectations and deadlines when delegating work to others
- Reduce procrastination by planning and scheduling
- Point out other people’s behaviour when their urgency is not your urgency
2 High Importance, Low urgency
- Schedule the work for the appropriate time
- Check your schedule regularly – is this the work I should be doing
- Allow your objectives to drive the urgency, and not other people’s urgency
3 High urgency, Low importance
- Delegate what you can, depending on your work level
- Give work delegates directions, but allow them to do the work
- Say no to less important tasks
- Do the task correctly the first time, so no repeat work is created
- Encourage people to provide solutions, not just problems
4 Low urgency, Low importance
- Reduce procrastination by using a daily schedule or plan
- Eliminate low value work as it is received
- Don’t get caught in the office chat or politics if you are busy.
- Learn to say no
Working within prioritised task schedules can help you remain on task and focused about what is coming up throughout the day. You will be doing the most important work at the right time, and then completing the less important work when you have time to clear it.
by Linden | Feb 19, 2020 | Goal Setting, Life Coaching Resources, Life Purpose
Knowing how to get promoted is key if you are wanting more job responsibility. It may take some time to establish yourself as a top performer in your workplace, and there are some effective ways to increase your chances.
You won’t get a promotion for the length of time you have been in the job, nor if you engage in office politics and gossip regularly. That will get you noticed, but not in the best way.
Your career growth is your responsibility and there are many ways to show your work ethic and enthusiasm. It is an area that I work in and can help you with your career growth.
Here are my top tips to put into practice:
1 Give your company great value for the time you are there. Know your job and do it well. Discuss the priorities for your responsibilities and tasks with your boss so you are working towards the organisation’s goals.
2 Be a team player and collaborate with your co-workers. Your boss needs people who are committed to their job, but also committed to the team objectives and take up responsibilities on projects.
3 Ask how you can help. Make yourself irreplaceable as the known ‘go-to’ for a particular office function such as ensuring customer contact is met within a short timeframe, or conversations in difficult situations remain calm and resolved quickly. Keep cool under pressure.
4 Learn new skills. By knowing the promotional job you are targeting you can research the role and the higher-level skills required. Learn online or through the company, building soft skills such as self-discipline, focus, creativity, work ethic and problem-solving skills. Note down any specific improvements that you contribute to for the company to add to your resume.
5 Get noticed for the right reasons by being engaged in the organisation’s activities. Contribute your ideas at staff meetings, put you hand up for projects and committees to expand your skills base, and dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
Remember to smile and enjoy your job, even though you may be wishing you already had that promotion. Think leadership and cultivate a good working relationship with your boss as well as your colleagues. Allow your boss to know you and the great value that you bring to your role.
Know that preparation is key to planning for a new role, and that is where I can help you. With many years engaged in roles at all levels of organisations I am in a good position to provide valuable advice.
Know your ‘why’. Knowing why you want to succeed and build a lasting career for yourself should be your guide. And I can help you to determine this.
