Prioritization can be a challenge. Many leaders with ADHD will prioritize too many things for various reasons. This article helps in finding ways to say ‘no’ using the Eisenhower Matrix.
There are dozens of things we need to do at any given time. If you are a people-pleaser or perfectionist, your list is probably even longer. ADHDers are known for having trouble with managing time, or chasing the dopamine-producing activities. So let’s use the Eisenhower Matrix to manage what to prioritize, and what doesn’t deserve your attention.
The Eisenhower Matrix looks at urgency and importance, so we have four quadrants where a task may land.
High Urgency & High Importance? Do it…maybe.
Anything falling in this quadrant is likely something you need to do first. But, before you commit to that, is is urgent and important that YOU complete this task, or would anyone else be better suited to tackle it? Take off your perfectionist glasses, and critically determine the importance and urgency. Many times tasks from other quadrants sneak into this quadrant when we aren’t respecting and protecting our boundaries.
High Urgency & Low Importance? Delegate.
If tasks fall in this quadrant, it should be even easier to delegate to a junior team member or outsource to another party. Urgent but not important tasks can sap your energy quickly, so be careful with what you take on, even if it sounds easy and quick.
Low Urgency & High Importance? Schedule it for later.
These are great tasks to pencil in for later! Later is a difficult concept for ADHDers. Many people with ADHD don’t have a clear grasp on time horizons. The more common time perception is “now” or “not now” and ‘later’ can quickly become never. If this is ultimately important, be sure to schedule it or have someone like a project manager keep you accountable for revisiting this task in a few weeks.
Low Urgency & Low Importance? Ditch it.
Listen up, people pleasers! If something is not important and not urgent, why does it even deserve space on your to-do list? Kick this item to the curb. If you get any pushback, that may mean it has a higher importance or urgency to the person raising the issue, and you can politely invite them to take ownership of the task.
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If this article helped jumpstart some prioritization strategies for you, there’s more where that came from! MPG would love to help you or your team on the inclusive workplace strategies that will serve you best. Fill out this contact form, and we’ll be in touch!
