List of Priorities Template

Leaders prioritize. It is a given. Whether a person runs a Fortune 500 company or a small nonprofit, the leader must know what is most important…and what to do next. But a lot of leaders don’t prioritize on a regular basis.

In my experience, a leader must continually look at the big picture, determine what is the most critical next step, then order the other actions and activities to fall into line to accomplish the goals and objectives of the organization. But many don’t do this, or they do it once a year and then relax.

John Maxwell points out in his classic book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, several reasons why some leaders don’t make the effort to prioritize. In bullet form, here are Maxwell’s observations.

  • When we are busy, we naturally believe we are achieving. But busyness doesn’t equal productivity.
  • Prioritizing requires leader to continually think ahead, to know how everything relates to the overall vision. That’s hard work.
  • Prioritizing causes us to do things that are at the least uncomfortable and sometimes painful.

Among some of the methods Maxwell uses to help leaders is teaching the three R’s. He identifies them as requirement, return, and reward. In brief, here’s what these are.

1. What is required? We are all accountable to someone for the work we do. Often as a leader it is the Board of Directors. One of the great questions to ask is, “What must I do that nobody can or should do for me?” It may mean you need to eliminate or delegate tasks that aren’t required specifically of you.

2. What gives you the greatest return? You should spend most of your time working in your area of greatest strength. Just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD do it.

3. What brings the greatest reward? This relates to personal satisfaction. Does something catch your eye…or catch your heart? Make a list of the four or five things you really love to do…including things in your personal life…and make them the priority for you personally.

John Maxwell says it is a good idea to make a list of the things you are doing that don’t fit solidly into one of the three R’s. Maxwell’s advice is to delegate or eliminate those things.

By the way…you should make this prioritization…a priority!