In 2018, a study showed that more than 50% of professionals work remotely for more than half of their week. The positive response from companies to telecommuting, as well as the emergence and greater connectivity of shared workspaces and the rise and rise of the gig economy, has changed the vision, values and attitudes of corporate leaders. Face-to-face interaction declined and digital communication thrived. However, it became more difficult for teams to collaborate spontaneously, build team-building, align projects, and prioritize tasks.
Table of Contents
Why task prioritization matters
Informally prioritizing ways you already prioritize
Setting up a formal task prioritization procedure has many benefits
Examples of task prioritization strategies and processes
Why is task prioritization important?
Return to the top
Prioritization is the conscious decision to prioritize tasks when they are all equally urgent. It is the process of dividing tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks. Each member of the project team tries to complete the task in a timely manner and to the required quality standards.
Digital and remote teams can now get task assignments via multiple channels simultaneously. Teams and individuals can only do the tasks they enjoy without clear policies, project plans, and task prioritization. Because smaller tasks are part of a larger project, there must be a dependency and a proper sequence of task completion. A project that was planned at the beginning will end up looking completely different at the end.
Informally prioritizing ways you already prioritize
Return to the top
The project management methodology guides a team through the entire project lifecycle, from beginning to finish. Different methods allow teams to choose the most appropriate approach for their needs and preferences. Depending on their needs, capabilities, and resources, teams may create custom or hybrid approaches. These are some of the informal ways that teams prioritize tasks:
First-in, first out – Teams work on tasks according to which task was added to the to-do or work queue first. It is an easy system that can be used for individual tasks and operations. This system doesn’t consider the larger impact of the task on the overall system, process or project.
By due date – Team members will focus on the tasks that have the earliest deadline regardless of whether there are any other task requests. This system helps to avoid missed deadlines, but it makes it difficult for team members not to be focused on one task. They can switch to the urgent task they are currently working on if they have to.
By availability – Teams will only work on tasks when they have the resources to do so. Team members will prioritize tasks that are related to the availability of a resource person, user or partner. This allows them to maximize time and schedule opportunities. This system is flexible, but it has very little control over its own schedules.
Also read: 5 Stages for Team Development: Tuckman’s Group Development
Setting up a formal task prioritization procedure has many benefits
Return to the top
Prioritization allows your team to align your overall strategy with your daily activities. You can make adjustments in your daily activities without worrying about whether you are missing the bigger picture. Your team can start working immediately after they have identified or received the tasks that they need to prioritize. Your team will be more productive and can complete work faster if they have a process for prioritizing tasks. They can produce consistent quality work. They can organize and manage their work when they know what they should be working on.