HOW To Develop (Velocity)
Lesson 9 Step 3 Determine a Priority Focus
Now that you have identified a development area/s how do we craft a plan that creates velocity and looks at how you did it, how well, how quickly, what direction.
E-mails, meetings, tasks lists, project deadlines. The biggest challenge with development is that the urgent is always getting in the way of the important. A McKinsey study found that 28% of an individual contributors’ day us spent on e-mail. Also they will have 2-3 meetings per day, which is more than 60 meetings per month. Hence why it is important that we focus on what matters. Plus instead of making it an “and”, integrate it into what you are doing already. Two criteria that can help identify a development priority which does this are as follows.
Criteria 1 Priority Matrix
Multi-tasking is a myth. No matter how engaged, invested, and detail-oriented you may be, it’s impossible to execute every task with the same level of attention—it’s also not necessary.
Setting a priority list or mapping out a priority chart takes advantage of your brain’s hard-wired ability to focus on the most important tasks at hand. Psychologists call this selective attention—the brain’s natural tendency of filtering out the unnecessary, as it is constantly taking in and working through information.
A priority matrix is a powerful time and project management tool that can help you focus on what matters most and keep critical projects on track. This prioritisation matrix breaks tasks out into two dimensions: the impact it will have and ability to effect change.
Activity If you have identified more than one development priority, to determine where to focus first place them on the matrix on Page 12 of your Black Workbook and in the diagram titled Prioritise the Priorities. Based on where they are placed, the priority you may want to consider focusing on will be found in the top right-hand corner where you can effect change and will have the greatest impact.
Criteria 2 Performance Domains
How can you match your development priority back to how it benefits your role, team, or organisation. Gallup identified 3 performance domains thar predict job success. Refer to Page 13 of your Black Workbook and the diagram 3 Performance Domains That Predict Job Success. These are
Individual Achievement My Work. Responsibilities you need to achieve independently
Team Collaboration My Team. How you partner with other team members to achieve success
Customer Value My Customer. The impact your work has on a customer (customer can be either internal or external)
Activity Can you link your development goal to one of these performance domains on Page 11 of your Black Workbook? If they are available, can you also tie this to one of your organisation’s communicated priorities if they have a strategic plan?
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