Priority Management Techniques

🪢 The MoSCoW Method: Prioritization with Purpose (Not Panic) Ever felt like your backlog is a never-ending buffet—and your team’s trying to eat everything at once? Welcome to the chaos of poor prioritization. But don’t worry—there’s a secret sauce that separates the chaotic teams from the confident ones. 👉 It’s called the MoSCoW Framework. Let’s break it down, without the corporate jargon overdose. _______________________________________ 💡 What is the MoSCoW Method? It’s not about Russia (sorry, geography fans). MoSCoW is a prioritization technique that helps you decide what truly matters in your projects—especially when time, budget, or sanity is tight. MoSCoW = ✅ Must Have ✅ Should Have ✅ Could Have ❌ Won’t Have (this time) ___________________________________ 📌 Why It Works Like a Charm Let’s be real: Not all features are equal. Not all stakeholder asks are sacred. And not everything can ship in the same sprint. The MoSCoW method forces clarity. It kills feature creep. And it brings focus back to value. ______________________________________ 🔆 The Four Buckets of Brilliance 1️⃣ Must Have 🚨 Non-negotiable. If these don’t make it, your product breaks or fails. Think: security login, checkout system, core workflows. Without these? Game over. 2️⃣ Should Have 🔥 Important, but not vital for launch. Think: error messages, mobile responsiveness, dark mode (maybe). You want them. Users want them. But the ship still sails without them. 3️⃣ Could Have ✨ Nice-to-haves. Think: animations, visual polish, integrations that look good in a demo. They delight—but don’t define—your product. 4️⃣ Won’t Have (this time) 🚫 Just say no. This doesn’t mean never, just not now. You’re buying focus by parking distractions. ___________________________________________ 💡 How to Use MoSCoW Like a Pro ✔️ Do it collaboratively—include stakeholders, devs, and end users. ✔️ Tie items back to business value and customer impact. ✔️ Revisit regularly—priorities shift, and so should your MoSCoW. ______________________________________________________ 🛠️ Real Talk for Scrum Masters & Product Owners Stop treating every item as a top priority. Use MoSCoW to run better refinement sessions. Apply it during PI Planning and Sprint Planning to manage scope creep like a boss. It’s a game-changer when balancing tech debt vs new features. ________________________________________________ 🔁 TL;DR: MoSCoW = Prioritize with Power You can't do it all—and you shouldn't. Use MoSCoW to deliver the right things, not everything. Because success isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters. _____________________________________________ 🫵 Over to You: How do you prioritize under pressure? Tried MoSCoW before? Share your wins (or war stories) 👇 And hey—follow me Kamal for more Agile tips that actually work in the real world. #Agile #ScrumMaster #ProductManagement #MoSCoWMethod #Prioritization #AgileCoaching #SprintPlanning #ProjectManagement #LeadershipInTech

I've managed 5 high-performing product marketing teams at startups and public companies, and there are 2 commonalities I've noticed at each: 1) it's easy for PMMs to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks on their plates, and 2) teams are rarely recognized for their true effort or impact by upper management. That's why I want to share my prioritization matrix 👇 It’s been a game-changer in how my teams approach projects and focus on what truly drives results. I’m curious—does this framework resonate with your approach to prioritizing tasks? Here's the concept: Rack up the wins by focusing on projects that offer high visibility and impact for lower effort and avoid those that drain your energy and don’t align with company goals. (Note: you could replace visibility with impact on this scale, but it's important that what you're working on is actually on the radar of those in upper management). Here’s how to prioritize: Quick Wins: These are the golden opportunities! High visibility, low difficulty — they bring great returns with minimal effort. Look for ways to get a few of these in your quarter. Strategic Initiatives: Aim for ONE strategic initiative per quarter. These are high-visibility, high-difficulty tasks that are aligned with your long-term goals. Go deep, plan ahead, and focus on the impact. You will be the most proud of these, but you need to be realistic about them. Routine Tasks: You’ve got to keep up with these, but don't let them consume too much of your time. Find a system to manage them efficiently. Avoid: Stay clear of high-difficulty, low-visibility tasks. These projects often don't yield the results you need, and they’re energy-draining. They don't align with your values or long-term success. 💡 Action Step: Review your current or upcoming projects. Classify them into high or low reward, and high or low effort. What projects are you spending too much time on that aren’t worth the effort? Time to realign and focus on what truly matters! #Productivity #TimeManagement #Prioritization #WorkSmart #StrategicFocus #CareerGrowth #Leadership How do you manage your / your team’s workload?

As CPO, I went where my calendar dictated. Then I’m sneaking glances at my email and Slack, and growing more stressed at more work accruing elsewhere. I was reactive. Each meeting spawned more follow-up meetings because I wasn't well prepared, or the right people were not present. To truly spend most of my time on my top priorities: 1️⃣ Make a top-down view of time spent that reflects your P0/P1’s. What initiatives, decisions, or strategies are they responsible for driving? 2️⃣ Divide your list into three sections: P0’s (only I can do), P1 (critical priorities that I cannot miss), and P2 (important to get done). 3️⃣ Assign a percentage of your time to each section: If your time spent reflects your priorities, this is what it should look like in aggregate. 4️⃣ Ruthlessly clean your next month of meetings. Delegate where you are not critical. Combine similar conversations. Shorten or reduce meeting frequency. Delete…and ask for forgiveness — because you’ll end up asking for it anyway on the day when you are triple-booked. Remember, if you are struggling with time management, the first step is not to open your calendar to ad hoc edit, but to map out your true priorities to set a strong foundation for your adjustments. 

Most PMs are prioritizing the wrong things. It’s not about building the most features. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀. When everything feels urgent, the real skill is choosing what 𝘯𝘰𝘵 to do. Here are quick, proven techniques to simplify your prioritization process: 🚦 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 → Mission: Why does this product exist? → Vision: Where are we headed? → Strategy: What will get us there? → Goals: What matters 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸? → Metrics: What do we measure to stay on track? But the real challenge? Balancing speed, strategy, and stakeholder alignment. My top 5 frameworks to help you navigate a backlog: 🟢 𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 Evaluate projects based on: ↳ Reach: How many users will it impact? ↳ Impact: What’s the effect on each user? ↳ Confidence: How sure are we about our estimates? ↳ Effort: How much time will it take? RICE score: (Reach × Impact × Confidence) / Effort 🟢 𝗪𝗦𝗝𝗙 (𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁) WSJF helps you build what’s most valuable—fast: ↳ Job Size: How big or complex is the work ↳ Cost of Delay = User-Business Value + Time Criticality + Risk Reduction / Opportunity Enablement WSJF Score = Cost of Delay ÷ Job Size 🟢 𝗠𝗼𝗦𝗖𝗼𝗪 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 This method clarifies priorities and sets expectations: ↳ Must have: Essential features. ↳ Should have: Important but not critical. ↳ Could have: Nice to have. ↳ Won’t have: Not for this time. 🟢 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘃𝘀. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘅 Plot your initiatives on a 2x2 grid: ↳ High Value, Low Complexity: Quick wins. ↳ High Value, High Complexity: Strategic projects. ↳ Low Value, Low Complexity: Fill-ins. ↳ Low Value, High Complexity: Time sinks. 🟢 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 Classify features based on customer satisfaction: ↳ Must-be: Basic expectations. ↳ Performance: More is better. ↳ Attractive: Delightful surprises. The best product teams don’t rely on a single technique. They blend methods based on goals, clarity, and team dynamics. Let’s stop guessing and start building smarter. 📌 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀? Product Map dives deeper with clear examples and resources. Here is the link to the detailed guide on Prioritization 👇 https://lnkd.in/e2tQCiHp ♻️ Repost to share the value. 📩 Which technique works best for your team? Let’s discuss this in comments!

S𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲? 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 7 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀! In Agile, everything feels important, but not everything should be prioritized equally. Without a structured approach, teams can get stuck in endless debates or focus on the wrong tasks. Here are 7 proven Agile prioritization techniques to help you decide what truly matters: 1️⃣ 𝗠𝗼𝗦𝗖𝗼𝗪 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 A simple way to categorize tasks based on necessity: ✅ Must-Have – Critical for project success. No compromise. 🔹 Should-Have – Important but not mandatory. Can wait if needed. 🔹 Could-Have – Nice to have, but won’t impact the project much. ❌ Won’t-Have – Out of scope for now. ➡ 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿: Quick and easy prioritization of backlog items. 2️⃣ 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 Classifies features based on how users perceive value: 🌟 Delighters – Unexpected features that wow users. ✅ Performance Needs – The better they are, the happier users are. 🔹 Basic Needs – Expected and essential. Missing them = unhappy users. ➡ 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿: Understanding customer satisfaction drivers. 3️⃣ 𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 A data-driven framework that scores tasks based on four factors: 📈 Reach – How many users will this impact? 🎯 Impact – How much will it benefit them? ⚡ Confidence – How sure are we about the impact? ⏳ Effort – How much time/resources are needed? 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮: (𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 × 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 × 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲) / 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 ➡ 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿: Prioritizing features based on measurable impact. 4️⃣ 𝗘𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘅 A productivity framework that separates tasks by urgency and importance: ✅ Urgent & Important – Do it now. 🔹 Important but Not Urgent – Plan for it. 🔥 Urgent but Not Important – Delegate it. ❌ Neither Urgent nor Important – Drop it. ➡ 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿: Managing daily work and preventing burnout. 5️⃣ 𝗪𝗦𝗝𝗙 (𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁) A formula-based method used in SAFe Agile: (Business Value + Time Criticality + Risk Reduction) / Job Duration ⏩ A high WSJF score means the work should be done sooner rather than later. ➡ 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿: Maximizing economic impact in scaled Agile frameworks. 6️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 (𝗖𝗼𝗗) ⏳ Prioritize based on the financial impact of delaying a feature. 💸 Helps answer: “How much money are we losing every day we don’t release this?” 🔥 Particularly useful for revenue-generating or compliance-driven features. ➡ 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿: Ensuring the highest ROI on time-sensitive projects. 💡 Which of these techniques do you use the most? Drop a comment below!

Harvard Business Review found that employees spend 41% of their time on tasks that add little or no value to their organization. So, how do you cut through the noise and focus on what matters most? Follow these 7 steps to master prioritization and take control of your workload: 1. Trying to keep track of tasks in your head is a recipe for stress and forgetfulness. Studies show that writing down tasks increases goal achievement by 42%. 2. Not all tasks carry the same weight. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to help sort tasks into four categories: ✅ Urgent & Important: Do these first. 📅 Important but Not Urgent: Schedule them. ➡️ Urgent but Not Important: Delegate if possible. ❌ Neither Urgent nor Important: Eliminate or postpone. When you assess importance, you shift from reactive work to strategic action that aligns with your long-term goals. 3. Once you’ve identified what matters, ranking tasks helps ensure you tackle the most impactful work first. A study in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that employees who prioritize based on long-term impact (rather than immediate urgency) boost their productivity by 25%. 4. Beware: Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. If you give yourself too much time, you’ll take it. The key? Set deadlines based on urgency and complexity. Research from Harvard Business School found that professionals who set clear deadlines and stick to them are 46% more likely to meet their goals. 5. Many people fall into the trap of handling easy, low-impact tasks first, but this creates the illusion of productivity without real progress. Instead, try this: Identify your top 3 priorities each day and commit to finishing them before moving on to less critical tasks. This shift can dramatically improve efficiency and effectiveness. 6. Priorities shift. If you don’t review and adjust, you’ll end up stuck in yesterday’s plan instead of adapting to today’s needs. A weekly review can increase productivity by 46%, according to Harvard Business School. 7. Multitasking might feel productive, but research from Stanford University shows it reduces efficiency by up to 40%. Instead, try: ✅ The Pomodoro Technique:work in focused 25-minute sprints ✅ Time Blocking: dedicate chunks of time to specific tasks ✅ The 2-Minute Rule: if a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately Yes, we all want to get things done, but mastering prioritization is about getting the *right* things done. When you focus on high-impact tasks, set clear deadlines, and avoid distractions, you’ll reduce stress, increase efficiency, and make better decisions. #TimeManagement #Priorities #Productivity #Efficiency #Leadership LaTour Leadership Academy

4️⃣ Proven Productivity Methods to Maximize Your Time and Results As an entrepreneur or investor, managing priorities is critical. These four productivity methods are backed by science and can help you focus, work smarter, and get more done: 1️⃣ Pomodoro Technique → What it is: Work in focused intervals (25 minutes) with short breaks in between. After 4 cycles, take a longer break. → Why it works: Studies show short breaks help maintain focus and reduce mental fatigue (Journal of Applied Psychology, 2014). → Pro Tip: Use it for tasks requiring intense concentration, like financial analysis or strategy planning. 2️⃣ Eisenhower Matrix → What it is: Categorize tasks into 4 quadrants—urgent/important, important/not urgent, urgent/not important, and neither. Focus on important but not urgent tasks. → Why it works: Research shows prioritizing important work over busy tasks reduces stress and boosts long-term productivity (Organizational Psychology Studies). → Pro Tip: Perfect for deciding whether to focus on investor calls, new opportunities, or deal negotiations. 3️⃣ Getting Things Done (GTD) → What it is: Capture all tasks in a system, clarify actionable steps, organize by priority, reflect regularly, and execute efficiently. → Why it works: Externalizing tasks reduces cognitive overload and enhances decision-making (International Journal of Project Management, 2015). → Pro Tip: Use GTD to manage deal pipelines, investor relations, and long-term planning. 4️⃣ Time Blocking → What it is: Schedule specific blocks of time for tasks or groups of tasks in your calendar. → Why it works: Structuring your day improves focus, prevents procrastination, and increases accountability (Personality and Individual Differences, 2002). → Pro Tip: Block time for your “deep work” like analyzing deals or reviewing financial models. Why This Matters for Entrepreneurs and Investors Time is your most valuable asset. Using these proven methods will: ❇️ Help you focus on high-impact activities. ❇️ Prevent overwhelm from managing multiple priorities. ❇️ Allow you to end your day with a sense of accomplishment. ⏩ Your Next Step Take 10 minutes to evaluate your current workflow. Which of these methods could you implement today to work smarter, not harder? Let’s connect in the comments—what’s your biggest productivity challenge right now? #ProductivityTips #Entrepreneurship #Investors #TimeManagement #RealEstateInvesting #BusinessGrowth #Focus #Prioritization #Efficiency #DeepWork

Are You Working on What You Should Be? Chances are You are reading this post for one of the following reasons: 1) Learning or Looking for Inspiration/Motivation 2) Supporting and uplifting someone else's work 3) Looking for others to engage with or help through a service 4) Procrastinating or Wasting Time The good news for those at #4 (possibly the majority)? Continue reading and you will find 2 techniques for prioritizing your Tasks. And taking better control of your Time! 2 Fantastic Techniques for Mastering Your Priorities: 1) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 4 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 Found in: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Also called the Eisenhower Matrix. Tasks are put in 1 of 4 Quadrants based on Urgency and Importance. Based on the Quadrant there is a recommendation for the task. The 4 Quadrants & Recommendations: Q1: Important and Urgent - Do or Schedule based on Deadline - Ex: Last-Minute Deadlines, Crises, Recurring Metric Updates Q2: Not Urgent but Important - Plan & Schedule - Ex: Major Improvement Projects, Long Term Planning, Relationship Building, Personal Improvement Q3: Urgent but not Important - Delegate - Ex: Not Utilized Reports, Interruptions, Non-Essential Emails/Meetings/Calls Q4: Neither Important nor Urgent - Eliminate - Ex: Mindless Scrolling on Computer, Shopping for things not needed 4 Steps to Utilizing the 4 Quadrant Method: Step 1) Identify All Tasks Step 2) Write Deadline next to Tasks & Rank Based on Urgency Step 3) Rank Importance of Tasks Step 4) Place Each Task in the Respective Quadrant and Follow the Recommendation (Do, Schedule, Delegate, Eliminate) - Doing this with Sticky Notes can apply to multiple senses and be satisfying when the tasks are crossed out or removed Spending more time in Q2 will help reduce the tasks in all 3 other Quadrants. 2) 5/25 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 Attributed to Warren Buffet. I first learned from Sahil Bloom. This is a simple 3-Step technique that can be powerful when executed appropriately. 5/25 Rule: Step 1) List 25 Goals (Work, Health, Family - You choose the Topic) Step 2) Rank All Goals and Circle the 5 Most Important Step 3) Physcially Cross out all the Remaining 20 Keep this Written List. Regularly review those 5 Items for progress. Do they have a target date? Metrics for success? Avoid those 20 Crossed-Out Items at all Costs! You have determined these as distractions. There you have it, 2 Simple and Powerful Techniques for Prioritization. Prioritize your tasks, take control of your Time. ✍️ Share methods you have for Prioritization that we can learn from. ~~~~~~~~ 🔔 Follow me, Brad Smith, for daily actionable Leadership & Fitness insights. 👋 Message me with any questions and help needed to get control of your Tasks!

Time is the one thing you can’t buy. But how you manage it makes all the difference. Managing time effectively isn’t about doing more—it’s about focusing on what matters. Over my career, Stephen Covey’s Four-Quadrant Time Management Model has proven invaluable in helping me structure my priorities: 👉 Urgent & Important: These are crises and pressing problems—tasks that must be tackled immediately. 👉 Important but Not Urgent: Strategic thinking, relationship building, and planning belong here. They don’t demand attention now but drive long-term success. 👉 Not Important but Urgent: Delegate these—routine emails, some meetings, and minor distractions. 👉 Not Important & Not Urgent: Remove the trivia and time-wasters altogether. Beyond the quadrants, structuring your time is key. For me, this means: ✅ Daily 20-minute team meetings: These short check-ins help prioritise tasks and avoid wasted time. ✅ A streamlined email system: Using three folders—“Action,” “For Information,” and “Day File”—keeps my focus where it’s needed. ✅ Efficient meetings: Clear agendas, materials sent in advance, and decisions at the centre. It’s not just about managing my own time—it’s also about enabling those around me to do the same. Two-thirds of a leader’s time is spent with direct reports, so helping them be productive has a multiplier effect. Ultimately, the goal isn’t to pack more into each day—it’s to free up time for the things that matter most, like family, friends, and personal well-being. Time is precious. Managing it well can make all the difference.

Are you navigating a Traffic Jam when it comes to prioritizing your marketing tasks? Whether you manage a team or are one of the members on a team, everyone in marketing knows things can move fast, and requests can come at any random time. Prioritizing can be difficult. You want to be helpful and say “yes” because you know you have the capabilities to help people, but it’s not always possible. Here is a system I use in order to manage the chaos of marketing project management: 1. Establish a Clear Intake Process: Implement a standardized request form for all departments. This ensures that every request is logged, detailed, and trackable. This is very popular with developers, it never made sense to me why all teams wouldn’t use this same process. 2. Prioritize Based on Impact and Urgency: Adopt a scoring system to assess each task’s impact on business goals and its urgency. High-impact, high-urgency tasks take the lead. Low-Impact, low-urgency tasks hit the back burner. Make it easy for other departments to see the transparency in this scoring. The mutually agreed upon system de-prioritized this task, not a person. 3. Communicate Transparently: Keep an open line of communication with all departments. Regular updates on task statuses prevent frustration and set realistic expectations. This should happen in ongoing meetings with different departments so you share what you’re working on. 4. Review and Adjust Regularly: Hold weekly review meetings with your team to assess the progress, re-prioritize if necessary, and plan for upcoming tasks. Get into the details of what the blockers are and ways to get around them. 5. Empower Your Team (to say no): Allow team members to have the ability to tell people it’s not a yes or a no - it’s a maybe. You need to put each task into the system you created and it will be prioritized accordingly. Sometimes that means “no - this task will not get done this week by our internal marketing team”, but you’re going to have a great system and explanation for why that is. Hard to argue against that level of transparency and proficiency. Remember, a systematic approach to task prioritization not only enhances efficiency but also keeps your team focused, motivated, and empowered. I’ve worked in both teams: - In one team I felt protected. My time was important. My time was guarded and practically guaranteed to be productive. - In another team I felt chaos. Every day was scattered. Rarely feeling a sense of accomplishment for all the work I was achieving. Obviously one was better than the other. 💡 How do you manage cross-departmental task overload in your team? Would love to hear others tips for success here - Share your strategies! #MarketingManagement #teamwork #efficiency #projectmanagement