The Eisenhower Matrix--Getting the Time-Alignment right

Doing Happens in All Four Quadrants

  It would be misleading to say that nothing gets done in any particular quadrant, or that a particular quadrant produces inaction.  In fact, “doing” happens in all four.  The question is, of course, “what is actually getting done?”  Am I doing the most important things, at the best times, in the best order?  Is what I’m doing taking me in the direction I want to go, or have given in to, or even created, roadblocks that are deterring me from being the person I most want to be?

What You can Do

  To be the most productive, intentional person you can be means learning to move quickly through Q1, efficiently taking on the urgent/important tasks, making decisions and continuing on.  It means winning over the tyranny of the urgent in Q3 by delegating or avoiding things that have the illusion of importance but truly do not need your immediate, exclusive attention.  It means eliminating the time-wasters and energy drainers of Q4, and learning how to make the best of your own workstyle, while not giving in to the quicksand of distractions.

  The most vital quadrant for you is Q2, the Planning Quadrant, where you plan, schedule, dream, rest, and re-imagine.

 The most toxic is Q4, the Quicksand Quadrant, with its swirling, sucking eddy of time-killers. Q1, the Crisis Quadrant is truly urgent and important, but unless you are a firefighter or an ER doc, you should spend the necessary time there and move on.  Q3, the Illusion Quadrant may be stealthier than Q4,  and you can get bogged down there if you’re not careful.

  So, start focusing on tasks in Q1 and Q2 by getting rid of Q4 and resolving Q3 activities and tasks quickly.  As you achieve this, your main focus will be to spend the majority of your time in Q2, moving from “fire fighting” (Q1) toward creating preventive actions and systems (Q2).

Doing this will enable you to  avoid stress and spend less time at work, while dramatically increasing your effectiveness and productivity. Don’t try to do everything at once – follow incremental steps. But get started!

  One great way to meet this challenge is with a coach!

Why Coaching? 

  Coaching helps you find clarity, execute your plan, and provides you accountability.  A coach can ask the questions that will help you discern where you are spending your time and energy, and inspire you to make whatever adjustments or changes you’d like to in order to feel that you are thriving in your personal and professional life. 

  A coach who understands the Eisenhower Matrix can help you evaluate in which quadrants you are spending your energy, and help you move into the right balance of time in each quadrant.

  Coaches don’t judge or criticize, rather a coach’s job is to help you get real about what’s happening in your world.  You evaluate, you decide, you become clear about what’s most important. From there your coach can help you expand your possibilities so that you see more of what kind of potential is ahead of you. 

  What may be most important of all, is that the coach will encourage you to develop and execute a plan to make the change you want.  Your coach will hold you accountable for your own goals, not the coach’s goal or dreams for you, but your own.

  Want to get started?  Call or text us at 970-631-2417.