Priorities Archives - All the Way Leadership Blog

The daily big 3 is a useful tool to help leaders focus on their top priorities

I am writing a blog series about becoming a strong leader in the post-pandemic world. Last December, I discussed how leaders can address the fact that many organizations have fewer people and resources to do the job. I declared that leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world. In April, I shared a proven leadership tool, the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, to set clear priorities in demanding roles. Last month, I described a powerful tool that helps leaders set clear priorities. In this blog, I will highlight another helpful tool for modern leaders to focus their daily efforts. It is called the Daily Big 3.

Setting daily priorities for leaders

Leaders have too many tasks and never enough time to finish everything. The most successful leaders deal with this dilemma by setting clear priorities for their teams and themselves. One such leader is Michael Hyatt. Many of you may not have heard of him before. Michael S. Hyatt is a modern-day productivity and leadership guru whom I trust. One thing I like about Michael’s Full Focus system is its practicality. His system includes a method that helps leaders set clear daily priorities. He refers to these top priority tasks as the daily big 3.

What is the daily big 3?

The daily Big 3 concept is not hard to comprehend. Your daily big 3 are your three most important tasks and associated actions. Nothing more, nothing less. Your daily big 3 enable you to set intentions and create a focus for the day. I fully realize that many leaders have an extensive list of things they must complete daily. Your daily to-do list may be a mile long. Therein lies the problem. How do you choose what gets priority of effort for the day? Another way to think about this concept. If you accomplish these three things, the day is a success. If you don’t, it is not.

How do you determine your daily big 3?

For some leaders, determining your daily three is not tricky. You look at what you have planned for the day and pick the three most important tasks to complete. For others, it may be a real struggle. Choosing your daily big three is particularly challenging when your schedule is full of endless meetings, unrealistic deadlines, and an infinite list of things you must complete. I recommend spending some time analyzing your activities to pick your daily big 3. All tasks are not equally important. The same goes for meetings. Some are routine, while others are vitally critical.

Write down your daily big 3

I recommend recording your daily big three somewhere so that you can reference it throughout the day. Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner has space for writing down your daily big 3. So it is clear—you do not need a Full Focus Planner to use this tool. You can use whatever planner or system works best for you. Some leaders may prefer a digital format, while others like analog. I use a hybrid approach with both digital and analog tools. In general, I prefer analog. Writing things down helps me remember them later. Perhaps you have the same propensity for analog.

Three thoughts about using this tool

I have used Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus system for several years. Based on my experience here are three thoughts about using this tool.

You do not have to pick three—there is no rule that says you have to pick three activities each day. That number is recommended. If you have less, no worries. I am against picking more than three. If you cannot narrow your focus to three or fewer priority tasks in a single day, then you likely have bigger problems to resolve.
You can include personal items – Most tasks I select are work-related. However, I often include a non-work item in my daily big 3. Life is not about only work. Don’t forget about the rest of your life when setting your daily big 3.
You don’t have to rank them—some people like to rank order their daily priorities. I usually don’t. Yes, some days, a clear #1 priority ranks high above the rest. For me, that is the exception, not the rule.

How do you use this powerful leadership tool?

Using this tool is relatively straightforward. Select your daily big three when preparing for the day, whether the night before or in the morning. Usually, I review my daily priorities when I start work. Next, I will check my progress against my priorities at midday to see how it is going. If none are complete, I may adjust my afternoon schedule to have time for my top priorities. At the end of the workday, I will check my daily big three to see if I have accomplished them. If not, I will complete them that evening or roll them over to the next day. This tool may seem like a lot of work. The investment is worth it. The most significant benefit this leadership tool gives me is focus. If I get sidetracked, the daily big three helps me get back on track and focus on what is essential for the day.

What is the hardest part of selecting your daily big 3?

If this tool is so effective, you may wonder why more leaders don’t leverage it. There are three reasons why. First, some leaders do not know about the daily big three. Second, many leaders have a mile-long to-do list. The idea of picking the top three things to do every day is daunting. Third, and most importantly, selecting your daily big three takes time and effort. It is a daily discipline. Trust me, it is worth it.

In the next blog, I will discuss a simple way to determine if you have clear priorities.

What about you? Do you know how to set clear priorities? Leverage the Eisenhower Decision Matrix and weekly preview to perform this critical function. Next, install the habit of picking your daily big three before you start your work day. In the next blog, I will discuss a simple way to determine if you have clear priorities.

You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.
John Maxwell

ATW! will make you a better leader

I hope you join me on this journey to raise the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!

All The Way Leadership!

The weekly preview is another powerful tool to help leaders set clear priorities

I am writing a blog series about becoming a strong leader in the post-pandemic world. Last December, I discussed how leaders can address the fact that many organizations have fewer people and resources to do the job. I declared that leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world. In April, I shared a proven leadership tool, the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, to set clear priorities in demanding roles. In this blog, I am sharing another powerful tool to help modern leaders set clear priorities in the modern world. It is called the weekly preview.

Setting personal priorities for leaders

Leaders have too many tasks and never enough time to finish everything. This phenomenon is nothing new. Since the dawn of time, leaders have faced the age-old questions of what to focus on and how to invest their resources. Time is the most important a leader possesses. You cannot create more time. Leaders have to juggle many tasks, activities, crises, etc. The most successful leaders deal with this dilemma by setting clear priorities for their teams and themselves. One such leader is Michael Hyatt. Many of you may not have heard of him before.

Who is Michael Hyatt?

Michael S. Hyatt is a modern-day productivity and leadership guru whom I trust. According to Wikipedia, as summarized by my research assistant, ChatGPT, Michael S. Hyatt is an American author, podcaster, blogger, and speaker known for his work on leadership, productivity, and goal setting. He began his career in publishing, co-founding Wolgemuth & Hyatt and later serving as CEO of Thomas Nelson. He authored several bestsellers, including “Platform” and “Your Best Year Ever.” 2012, he founded Michael Hyatt & Company, a leadership development firm.

What is a weekly preview?

Over the past decade, Michael Hyatt created the Full Focus Planner and the system you use to get the most from it. I use the planner and will not go into great detail about how it works. Instead, I will highlight what Michael describes as the “secret sauce” of the planner—the weekly preview. The weekly preview allows leaders to reflect on the week before and prepare for the week ahead. It is not an overly complex activity, but it does take about an hour to complete. The best way for me to describe the weekly preview in detail is to walk you through the process.

How do you complete a weekly preview?

Completing a weekly preview has five primary steps, which are described below. If you use the Full Focus Planner, there are pages for these steps.

Write down your wins from the previous week. Start your weekly preview positively by listing your wins for the week. What is a win? Anything that went well.
Evaluate how your week went. Think about the various things that happened during the week. Ponder questions like what worked? What didn’t and why?
Make adjustments for next week. You want to keep doing successful activities and change what did not work. You may want to start doing something new for better future results and stop doing something that is not helping you move forward.
Look at your calendar for next week. It is essential to look ahead and see what activities you have planned. If you have schedule conflicts, now is the time to fix them, not later. Keep an eye out for days that are completely packed.
Identify your “Big 3” activities for the week. This step is the most important. Take time to identify the three most critical upcoming activities. Your “Big 3” can include both personal and professional activities.

So it is clear—you do not need a Full Focus Planner to execute your weekly preview. You can use whatever planner or system works best for you. Some leaders may prefer a digital format, while others like analog. I write down the results of my weekly preview in my Full Focus Planner. It helps me remember them for future reference and track my progress for the year.

A weekly preview helps you identify your weekly “Big 3”

The most important result of your weekly preview is your “Big 3”. These activities are your top priorities for the week. They will help you determine the best way to invest your time over the next week. If you are struggling because you have too much on your plate, your weekly “Big 3” lets you focus on what matters most. One component of step 2 that I did not mention in the previous section is that you should evaluate how far you got on your weekly “Big 3”. A week is successful if you achieve your weekly “Big 3”. If not, then there is room for improvement next week.

How do you use this powerful leadership tool?

There are two significant benefits of the weekly preview. First, it enables you to reflect and analyze your results from the previous week. You can learn, improve, and make adjustments for the next week. It is frustrating for you as a leader if you keep having horrible weeks and cannot do anything to course-correct your path forward. The second benefit is that this leadership tool adequately prepares you for the week ahead. You know what is coming, have thought about it beforehand, and set your priorities. This proactive approach is intentional and better than responding to events as they unfold without considering what deserves your time and attention.

What is the hardest part of the weekly preview?

If this tool is so effective, you may wonder why more leaders don’t leverage it—three reasons why. First, some leaders do not know about the weekly preview. Second, some leaders prefer to spend all their time future-focused versus processing the past. They feel it wastes time doing something like the weekly preview. Third and most importantly, conducting a weekly preview takes time. Typically, you will invest at least an hour in your weekly preview. I believe it is a wise way to start every week.

Take time to reflect every week – it is a worthwhile activity.

In the next blog, I will discuss another leadership tool from Michael Hyatt

What about you? Do you know how to set clear priorities? Leverage the Eisenhower Decision Matrix and weekly preview to perform this critical function. In the next blog, I will discuss another tool by Michael Hyatt designed to help leaders focus their efforts. I will challenge you to be even more ruthless when setting priorities so that you can lead successfully in the post-pandemic world.

You have a choice in life. You can either live on-purpose, according to a plan you’ve set. Or you can live by accident, reacting to the demands of others. The first approach is proactive; the second reactive.
Michael S. Hyatt

ATW! will make you a better leader

All The Way Leadership!

Leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world

I am writing a blog series about becoming a strong leader in the post-pandemic world. First, I asked, Are you ready to be a strong leader in the post-pandemic world? Next, I continued the conversation by listing many bold predictions that did not come to fruition in the post-pandemic world. In October, I discussed three big work-related changes that all leaders need to understand to be successful in the post-pandemic world. In this blog, I will focus on how leaders can address big change number one – fewer people and resources to get the job done. The bottom line is that leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world.

Many organizations have fewer people

As I wrote in a previous blog, many industries reduced their workforce during the pandemic. Some that were hit hard, like travel, hospitality, and entertainment, rebounded and are on a positive trajectory in the post-pandemic world. Others have not faired so well. If you are wondering which industry laid off the most people this year, the answer is technology, according to my research assistant, ChatGPT. Here is what my assistant said when asked what sector laid off the most people in 2023.

“In the past year, the technology sector experienced many layoffs. Many tech companies, including major players like Cisco, Evernote, Oracle, Zendesk, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Cognizant, and Amazon, announced substantial layoffs. These layoffs affected various departments and were often attributed to cost reductions, restructuring plans, and a need to adapt to changing market conditions. The layoffs ranged from a few hundred employees in some companies to larger percentages of the workforce in others.”

Laying off employees is nothing new for many industries. The change this time around is the scale of the lay-offs. For example, the technology sector laid off over 100K employees in 2022. Numbers for this year are not final, but many believe it will be another large number. What does that mean for leaders? You will not have as many people in many industries to do the job as before. Sometimes, your team may be severely short-staffed, which can be challenging.

Some organizations have fewer resources

Not only did organizations reduce their workforce, but some also decreased their resources. What does that mean? Smaller investments, reduced offices, decreased benefits, lower budgets, less travel, and other ways to save money by cutting expenses. Don’t be surprised if fewer resources are available than before, which will limit your options. For example, if you use consultants to augment your workforce, you may be less able to leverage them as you did before the pandemic. I know many companies have “tightened their belts,” which makes leading in the post-pandemic world more challenging. However, lean times can sometimes lead to innovative solutions.

Leaders will need to set clear priorities

Given this new reality of fewer people and resources, leaders must set clear priorities to succeed in the post-pandemic world. Why? As a leader, you cannot waste your team members’ time on activities that don’t matter much or expend resources on low-return items. Gone are the days when you quickly produce better results by throwing more people at the problem. Neither can you afford to blow your budget early in the year and hope to get more resources later. No, wise leaders will set clear priorities so that the things that matter most get done first by their team members and themselves.

Strong leaders invest their own time in top-priorities

Let’s not forget that leaders must also set clear priorities for themselves. How you invest your time is hugely important. Please don’t waste it sitting in endless status meetings or low-impact activities. No – you need to focus on the top priorities. Over the years, I have witnessed many leaders who do not understand how to invest their time. They let others dictate how they spend their days without considering it. How can you spot a leader wasting their time on low-impact activities? Look at their calendars. It will tell you all you need to know. We will talk more about calendar management for leaders later this year in case it is one of your obstacles.

In the next blog, I will discuss a tool to set priorities.

What about you? Do you know how to set clear priorities for your teams and yourself? Do you have the tools you need to perform this critical function? If not, don’t worry. In the following few blogs, I will talk about tools that will help you set clear priorities and help put you on the path to success this year. Even if you already know how to set priorities, read the following few blogs. I will challenge you to be even more ruthless when setting priorities so that you can lead successfully in the post-pandemic world.

The most precious resource we have is time.
Steve Jobs

ATW! will make you a better leader

All The Way Leadership!