![\"Covey](\"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/FirstThingsFirst.jpg\" "\\"Covey")
<\/p>\nWhat is the most important thing you can be doing right now? We asked ourselves that question in the studio as we munched Cocoa Pops during our recent studio breakfast session reviewing Covey’s Habit 3: Putting First Things First.<\/p>\n
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The take-away diagram from Habit 3 places everything we do in one of four quadrants based on how urgent or important the action.\u00a0 Some examples of activities in these quadrants include:<\/p>\n
If you find yourself focusing solely on Quadrant I activities, ask yourself if there was a Quadrant II activity you could or should have done to avoid doing the Quadrant I activity.\u00a0 For every ten Quadrant Is, there is usually only one or two underlying Quadrant II.\u00a0 Once identified, put in an action plan.\u00a0 As you put the plan in place, hold onto the hope and reality of change, as it can take some time to implement and you may be in the cycle of Quadrant Is a while longer.<\/p>\n
Prioritising is difficult when everything is urgent all the time.\u00a0 If you feel you just can\u2019t get to it all, you are probably right.\u00a0 Getting out of panic stations is a two-step process.\u00a0 First, get your Quadrant Is under control.\u00a0 In our situation, despite all best efforts, deployments may not be picture perfect and issues can come from all directions.\u00a0 When this happens, it is all hands on deck to get the critical issues under control.<\/p>\n
The second stage is to implement short and long-term Quadrant IIs.\u00a0 Again, seek help in not only identifying the underlying Quadrant II activity, but allow for your ego to be set aside to allow someone else to implement.\u00a0 You may be the best one to wrap up panic stations while someone else with an outside perspective addresses the underlying root cause.<\/p>\n
Activities in Quadrant III and IV should not be dismissed off hand, as they may be miscategorised.\u00a0 Seemingly mundane activities such as chats in the kitchen or games during lunch build capital in the studio that you will need to draw from when times get tough.\u00a0 If the focus is always on work, you get a worn out team.<\/p>\n
Be aware of prioritising your own down time in Quadrant II.\u00a0 This is a fine balance, as it is easy to put aside what needs to be done with the justification that \u201cI deserve this.\u201d. Often, our quadrant IIs don\u2019t get done simply because we don\u2019t like to do them.\u00a0 As mentioned, perhaps try to find those who can support you in this.\u00a0 Even if they don\u2019t like the tasks either, misery loves company and you can plough through together.<\/p>\n