The Urgent vs.

The Important

Introduction

• "I get completely caught up in fire-fighting and can't find the time to advance my longer-term priorities."

Important

• This is a common lament, the frustration you feel when the urgent crowds out the important.

Strategies to HandleThe Urgent & The Important

Be Clear and Realistic

• The first is being clear and realistic about your longer-term priorities.

• If you haven't clarified your A-item priorities, or if you are trying to take on too much, it's hard to avoid getting sucked into the black hole.

• Be realistic about the consequences of your A-item priorities.

Distinguish Unproductive & Productive Efforts

• Stay clear in your own mind about this distinction of the items above mentioned and use it to evaluate progress and the necessary energy and efforts that you are going to employ.

Delegate More Effectively

• Learn to delegate and share activities to decrease your stress level, allowing you to reach your deadlines easily.

Defend your Boundaries

• It is important to establish and rigorously defend your boundaries

• Ask the questions:– "What is the best use of my time right

now?

– How important is this today, how important will it be three months and six months down the road?"

Defend your Boundaries

• If do you have to focus on a fire-fighting task, set limits on how much time you will devote to it and stick to them.

• You have to vigorously protect your boundaries. No one else will.

Conclusion

• Think hard about whether you are part of the problem or part of the solution.

• Are you unnecessarily driving the people who work for you into fire-fighting mode?

Conclusion

• In many organizations, the real rules of the game are that people are rewarded for solving problems and not for preventing them.

Lico Reis Consultoria & Línguas

Roberto Lico Reis

www.licoreis.comlicoreis@licoreis.com

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