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Time Management Matrix

Renowned business consultant Stephen Covey illustrates prioritizing tasks in a simple manner through his Time Management Matrix.

The table below is from his book First Things First.

 

Urgent

Not urgent

Important

Quadrant 1

  • Crises
  • Emergencies
  • Pressing problems
  • Deadline-driven     projects

Quadrant 2

  • Planning
  • Prevention
  • Relationship building
  • Recognizing new opportunities
  • Recreation

Not Important

Quadrant 3

  • Interruptions, some calls
  • Some mail, some reports
  • Some meetings
  • Proximate, pressing matters
  • Popular activities

Quadrant 4

  • Trivia, busy work
  • Some mail
  • Some phone calls
  • Time wasters
  • Pleasant activities

To achieve maximum results from what you do, you must complete tasks in quadrant 1 FIRST, then quadrant 2 followed by quadrant 3 and quadrant 4. Avoid spending time in quadrant 4 activities if possible.

Covey suggests that if you allocate more time to quadrant 2 activities, the time you need to spend on quadrant 1 activities will naturally decrease. What he means is that if you plan properly you will not face too many emergencies or pressing problems in your life.

So remember to get things done early!


Return from the Time Management Matrix to the Introduction of Prioritizing Skills


Related Time Management Resources on Prioritization

First Things First Stephen Covey's book, First Things First discusses get the most accomplish more by getting important things done

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