Urgent / Important Matrix

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Urgent/Important MatrixKey Goals

These activities help you achieve your goals, and complete important work. You need to have plenty of time to do these things properly, so that they do not become urgent. Remember to allow time in your schedule to deal with unforeseen problems as this will help to keep on time and avoid work becoming more urgent than necessary.

Critical ActivitiesImportant activities have an outcome that helps to achieve your goals. Urgent activities demand immediate attention, and are often part of someone else's goals. Urgent tasks are likely to have an immediate or past deadline. Urgent tasks are not always time consuming, effort intensive or connected to an important task. Important tasks have a direct impact on your goals, but do not always have a have a deadline looming.

DistractionsThese activities should be avoided if possible. Some can simply be rescheduled, cancelled or ignored. Some are activities that other people may want you to do, but they do not contribute to your own desired outcomes. Either say "No" politely or defer until a more appropriate time.

InterruptionsThese activities stop you achieving your goals, and prevent you from completing your work. Ask whether these tasks can be rescheduled, or whether you can delegate them. A common source of such interruptions is from other people in your office. Sometimes it's appropriate to politely say "No" to people or schedule a more convenient time to talk. By doing this, you'll be able to concentrate on your important activities for longer periods of time.

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HighUrgent