How to Prioritize Your Work When Your Manager Doesn’t

Harvard Business Review

11 Dec 202204:10

Summary

TLDRPrioritizing work effectively can be challenging, especially in environments with unclear goals and conflicting priorities. This framework encourages individuals to take ownership of their workload by filtering tasks based on contribution and passion. By identifying high-value areas, tolerating necessary but draining tasks, elevating energizing activities, and delegating low-value work, employees can optimize their time. Implementing a color-coded system in calendars can help track priorities. Ultimately, reclaiming control over one's time leads to meaningful results and increased job satisfaction.

Takeaways

😀 Take ownership of your priorities; it's essential to your success.
🤔 Many employees lack clarity on their company's strategy and their roles in achieving goals.
📊 Global executives often face conflicting priorities, making effective prioritization crucial.
💡 Filter your priorities based on two criteria: contribution and passion.
🔍 Assess your highest contribution by aligning your strengths with the organization's needs.
❤️ Identify what you're passionate about to fuel your motivation and energy.
🗂️ Use an organizing framework to sort priorities and define actionable steps.
🚀 Focus on tasks that combine high value and personal excitement.
🔄 Delegate low-value tasks and consider hiring help if necessary.
🗓️ Regularly review your calendar to ensure you're allocating time effectively across priorities.

Q & A

What is a common issue employees face regarding understanding company goals?
-Research indicates that over 90% of employees do not fully understand their company's strategy or what is expected of them to achieve these goals.
How can conflicting priorities affect employees?
-Global executives report having too many conflicting priorities, which can create stress and hinder employees' ability to focus on their tasks.
What mindset should employees adopt when setting priorities?
-Employees should take ownership of their workload and not view prioritization as someone else's responsibility, recognizing their role in achieving success.
What are the two criteria suggested for filtering priorities?
-The two criteria are contribution and passion, helping individuals focus on what is impactful and inspiring for them.
How should one assess their highest contribution?
-Consider both the organization's needs and how personal strengths, experience, and capabilities uniquely align with those needs.
Why is it important to identify what you are passionate about?
-Understanding what inspires your work fuels motivation and energy, which are crucial for taking action and maintaining engagement.
What should be done with tasks that drain energy but are necessary?
-These tasks should be tolerated and accepted as part of the job, acknowledging that not all work will be enjoyable.
What actions can be taken regarding tasks that others view as low-value?
-These tasks can be delegated, shared with others, or eliminated altogether, as priorities may shift throughout one's career.
How can employees effectively track their time allocation?
-Reviewing the calendar over the past month can help assess how time is allocated across various priorities, and a color-coding system can enhance visibility.
What is the ultimate goal of taking ownership of prioritizing tasks?
-By prioritizing effectively, individuals can produce meaningful results, experience greater job satisfaction, and have increased energy in their work.