The Eisenhower matrix is a common method of prioritising your life’s tasks. The matrix coined its name from Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States. He was a commanding general in WWII and responsible for the construction of the US interstate highway, as well as the Department of Health, Education & Welfare. Eisenhower was a man known for getting things done.
In the late 20th century, his processes were collated to form the Eisenhower matrix, which is now used as a simple guide in everyday life to aid productivity.
The model breaks down any given task into four simple categories, forming lines between importance and urgency:
Important & urgent – Get it done!
– Tasks with deadlines
– Urgent emails
– High priority Tasks
Important, but not urgent – Schedule it!
– Planning stages
– Training
– Networking
Not important, but urgent – Delegate it!
– Scheduling meetings
– Uploading blog posts
– Answering phone calls
Not important & not urgent – Get rid of it!
– Procrastination
– Office gossip
– Perfectionism
The idea behind the model is to sort every task you receive into each of these categories, which will help you tackle them in an order which allows you to manage your workday more productively.
When using the matrix, it’s imperative to clearly define the terms “urgent” and “important”. Important tasks are generally those with responsibility and consequence attached to them, and when if ignored would have detrimental effects. Any task that is urgent is only so if it has a close approaching deadline. Resist the temptation to panic mark most tasks as urgent when you could easily schedule another time to complete them.
The matrix is particularly useful for individuals involved in any form of project management, or those who find themselves overworked, with no time to focus on their long-term goals. This is all too common for those who are involved with the running of a membership association.
Using this method not only prompts but answers the questions of what you should be spending your time on and when. This will allow you to cut the wheat from the chaff by enabling you to successfully prioritise workloads, work more cohesively as a team and reduce stress levels.
Let us know in the comments how the Eisenhower Matrix could help you!
