Aligning Daily Objectives

The biggest thing that helped me become a better PMM was carving out time for strategic thinking, no matter how busy I was. Why is this important? -> Tactical work alone won’t advance your career. You need to think far with a strategic vision and have the ability to execute. -> Strategic clarity reduces decision fatigue and eliminates random tasks that don’t lead to real outcomes. -> It helps you identify opportunities to innovate and create net new value for the business. -> Teams naturally follow people who think beyond the immediate. Here’s how I do it (and how you can too): 1️⃣ Block time for deep thinking It’s very hard to focus on strategic work if you are always busy in meetings or putting out fires. So the first step is to make TIME. Dedicate 30–60 minutes daily to uninterrupted, quiet thinking even if it means waking up earlier. I also block Wed and Friday mornings for extended work sessions. Find a time that works with your natural productivity. 2️⃣ Prioritize what to focus on (and not focus on) Strategy also means saying no, or not now. Use my Action/Priority Matrix to identify and focus on high-impact tasks, while deferring, delegating or eliminating the rest. Communicate your priorities to your manager for transparency. Remember part of strategy is also saying no. https://lnkd.in/eDd_PvuN 3️⃣ Create project plans Before jumping into a project, no matter how big or small (even if it’s just creating a piece of content), get into the habit of writing out a project plan, including who, how, what, when, why, KPIs, milestones, and key stakeholders. This forces you to think AHEAD, create a repeatable structure, and helps you easily drive alignment with others. 4️⃣ Review long-term goals often Regularly assess how your day-to-day work aligns with your big-picture vision/strategy. Realignment ensures you’re always working toward meaningful outcomes. I suggest doing a monthly review and then communicating what you’d like to start, stop, and continue, with your manager. This also shows you are proactive. 5️⃣ Talk it out with a thought partner or coach Clarity doesn’t always come on your own. Talking through your ideas with someone who can ask the right questions or challenge your assumptions is invaluable. My clients often come to me with a jumble of (great) thoughts, and we untangle them to pull the thread together and uncover the strategy. — Carving out time for strategic thinking isn’t just about blocking time - it’s about making that time effective by doing the right thing and creating the right system. What would you add? #productmarketing #strategy #career #growth #coaching

Your Technical Skills Will Only Take You So Far This might sound like heresy—especially for my fellow Warrant Officers—but here it is: Your technical skills will only take you so far. Years ago, my supervisor asked me a question that changed everything: “What type of Warrant Officer do you want to be?” In my career field, there were two clear paths: • 𝗔𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿: the go-to expert, mastering every technical detail. • 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿: the one who aligned teams, strategies, and big-picture goals to accomplish missions. Even back then, I knew my answer. I didn’t just want to be a technical guru. I wanted to be the leader who shaped the force—who 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻t to achieve what no individual contributor could on their own. 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆: Alignment has been my informal leader superpower. Whether influencing stakeholders, leading complex projects, or navigating high-pressure environments, the ability to align people, priorities, and processes has been the key to success. Here’s the truth: Alignment creates momentum. ✅ Priorities become clear. ✅ Stakeholders feel invested. ✅ Execution becomes seamless. But it doesn’t happen by accident. Alignment requires intentionality, strategy, and leadership beyond the technical. Want to master alignment? Here’s how: 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗪𝗵𝘆.” Every mission needs clear objectives. Use tools like SMART goals or OKRs to ensure everyone understands the target. 𝟮. 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Dialogue beats directives. Platforms like Slack or Teams help create transparency. 𝟯. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. What drives them? Use frameworks like RACI to clarify roles and keep everyone moving in sync. 𝟰. 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. Tools like Gantt charts or Lucidcharts ensure clarity and context across the team. 𝟱. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗨𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆. Alignment isn’t a one-and-done deal. Regular check-ins ensure momentum doesn’t falter. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿: In environments where formal authority is limited, your ability to generate alignment is your leadership edge. It’s the difference between scattered effort and mission success. Now, tell me—what’s your superpower as a leader? Let’s hear it in the comments. 👇🏾

Purpose Check: The 3-3-3 Alignment Method In the rush of daily demands, it's easy to lose sight of our deeper purpose. Today, I'm sharing a simple but powerful exercise I use with my leadership clients to bridge the gap between daily actions and long-term vision. I call it the 3-3-3 Method: 3 Minutes: Start your day by writing down your core purpose in one sentence. (Mine is "Empowering others to discover and act on their highest potential.") 3 Questions: Before each major task, pause and ask: ✔️ How does this align with my purpose? ✔️ Who will this impact beyond myself? ✔️ What would change if I approached this with purpose-driven intention? 3 Actions: End your day by identifying three moments where you lived your purpose, no matter how small. A purposeful conversation with a team member counts just as much as a major project milestone. The magic isn't in perfect execution—it's in the consistent reminder that every action can serve a greater purpose. Try this for one week. You might be surprised how this simple practice transforms your leadership impact. What's your one-sentence purpose? Share below and inspire others to find theirs. #PurposeDrivenLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #IntentionalLiving #Leadership

How Focusing on Just 3 Priorities Can 10x Results Starting Tomorrow The biggest mistake in productivity isn't poor time management. It's trying to do too many things at once. Here's what most people get wrong about daily priorities: Myth 1: "More tasks equal more results" ↳ Focus creates breakthrough moments ↳ Less activity often yields bigger wins ↳ Reality: Quality trumps quantity The Priority Framework: 1. Choose Your Big 3 ↳ Pick three priorities that move the needle ↳ Align them with long-term objectives ↳ Everything else becomes secondary 2. Deep Work Blocks ↳ Dedicate uninterrupted time ↳ Eliminate small tasks until priorities are done ↳ Protect your peak performance hours 3. Outcome Over Activity ↳ Measure results, not busy work ↳ Ask "Will this create real impact?" ↳ Say no to good opportunities for great ones The Power of Priority Shifts: ↳ Less mental fatigue ↳ Higher quality output ↳ Better work-life integration ↳ Increased sense of accomplishment The real question isn't how many tasks you can complete—it's whether those tasks are moving you toward your biggest goals. Ready to transform your daily approach? Start by identifying your three non-negotiable priorities for tomorrow. ⤵️ Share your top priority below 🔔 Follow Mike Hays for more productivity insights

Misalignment. It hides in silence: The blocker we didn’t flag. The unclear priority we didn’t question. The help we didn’t ask for. I’ve learned—it’s almost never about lack of effort. It’s about lacking the intentional routines that drive team alignment. The solution? A simple 15-minute daily check-in can prevent weeks of drift. Here’s what leaders need to know to make it work: 👉 The Power of the Daily Check-In  ↳ It’s not just about tasks—it’s about keeping the team connected, aligned, and moving together. 👉 What Is a Daily Check-In?  ↳ A quick, structured sync that brings visibility, surfaces blockers, and reinforces shared priorities. 👉 What Happens When You Skip It?  ↳ Misalignment creeps in—causing delays, silos, and stalled momentum. 👉 Why It Works  ↳ It builds a repeatable structure for communication, pivots, and transparency. 👉 The Format That Keeps It Focused  ↳ Each teammate shares four things: what I did, what I’m doing, what’s blocking me, and who I need—short and sweet. 👉 Think of It as a Daily Reset  ↳ Even in the messiest weeks, the check-in grounds your team, fuels collaboration, and keeps momentum. What daily habit helps your team stay aligned and connected? Drop your thoughts in the comments. 👇 ♻️ Reshare to help your network build stronger, more aligned teams. ➕ Follow Morgan Davis, PMP, PROSCI, MBA for actionable insights on building agile, high-performing organizations.

Hi again, Topic of the day: "Managing Multiple Priorities in Project Management" When you're juggling daily high-priority tickets, larger strategic work (rocks), and those unexpected small requests, it can feel overwhelming to balance it all. Let's break it down so you can manage everything without losing your mind. 1. Workload and Capacity Planning Workday: 8 hours Buffer for meetings and admin work: ~20% of time Available capacity per person: 48 hours (after buffer) Total Team Capacity: 144 hours 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈? To balance workload, avoid burnout, and ensure consistent progress across different priority levels. 2. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 Managing multiple priorities effectively requires a balance between urgent, important, and routine tasks. Urgent-Important Matrix: High-Priority Daily Tasks (~40 hours): Immediate, urgent tasks that require quick resolution. These take precedence but should not derail strategic progress. Strategic Projects (~80 hours): Long-term objectives crucial for overall success. These are planned and tracked to ensure steady progress. Unplanned Work (~24 hours): Ad-hoc requests or unforeseen issues. Team members should assess urgency before addressing them. Objective: Balance immediate responses while maintaining progress on critical goals. 3. 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Share quick updates: What was done, what's next, blockers. Identify urgent, high-priority tasks that need immediate attention. Re-evaluate workload balance if urgent tasks disrupt strategic projects. Use time-boxing techniques to focus on essential tasks while minimizing distractions. Purpose: Maintain visibility, adjust priorities swiftly, and ensure balanced workload management. 4. 𝐌𝐢𝐝-𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤-𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 Evaluate progress on strategic projects. Ensure high-priority daily tasks are manageable and not overwhelming. Assess if unplanned work is creating bottlenecks or delaying planned tasks. Redistribute workload if any team member is overloaded. Purpose: Adapt to changing priorities while maintaining steady progress on strategic goals. 5. Retrospective and Continuous Improvement for Better Prioritization Reflect on how well priorities were managed — what went well, what didn't? Discuss workload challenges openly to identify potential adjustments. Gather feedback to optimize workload distribution and priority handling. Objective: Enhance team collaboration, efficiency, and prioritize smarter for future cycles. Do you see this as a good plan to follow? . .  #SprintPlanning, #Agile workflows, and #Scrum methodologies #ProjectManagement#TeamCollaboration#GoogleProjectManagement#PMI#pmp#capm#csm

🎯 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 Ever feel like you're drowning in tasks, especially after a major life change? I certainly did when I became a parent. Suddenly, the balancing act between work and home felt like an impossible feat. My old ways of managing tasks and goals weren’t cutting it anymore. With more on my plate and less time, I needed a better way to stay on top of everything—especially at work. That's when I discovered the 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 (𝗢𝗞𝗥) 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, popularised by companies like Google. The OKR method has been instrumental in improving my efficiency and is simple to implement: 1️⃣ 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: Define what you want to achieve. It should be clear, inspiring, and time-bound. 2️⃣ 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: Identify the measurable outcomes that will indicate progress toward achieving the objective. These should be specific, time-bound, and verifiable. Here's how OKRs have transformed my work: 🔍 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: Keeps me aligned with what truly matters. 📏 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: Tracks my success and helps me pivot when needed. 🤝 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Ensures my work adds real value to broader goals. Before OKRs, juggling work and home felt overwhelming. Now, each task feels more purposeful, making both my workday and home life much more manageable. The OKR framework isn’t just for corporates—it’s a powerful tool for anyone looking to improve their productivity and make meaningful progress. How do you keep track of your targets? Let’s share strategies and tips with each other. Photo: A moment of reflection in nature—where I often set my long-term OKRs. #LinkedInNewsAsia

Is Your Strategy Actually Strategic? Master The Pyramid. 🧠 Ever feel like your team is busy but not moving the needle? It's often a sign of a strategy disconnect. The brilliant Pyramid of Strategy framework (inspired by Wendy McGuinness, via Eric Partaker) is my go-to model for creating perfect strategic alignment. Here’s the breakdown from visionary top to actionable bottom: 🔷 VISION (Why): Your North Star. The inspirational future you're building. 🔷MISSION (What): Your purpose today. What you do, for whom, and why it matters. 🔷CORE VALUES (How): Your cultural guardrails. How you behave on the journey. This is where strategy begins... 🔶 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: Your 2-5 "big bets." Where you focus energy & resources. 🔶LONG-TERM GOALS: Measurable 3-5 year outcomes. How you score the game. 🔶INITIATIVES: Key programs & projects to win. Your major plays. 🔶STRATEGIES: Your "how-to" playbook for each initiative. The game plan. 🔶TACTICS: The specific tools and actions. The moves you make. 🔶ACTION PLAN: The daily to-do list, with owners and deadlines. The execution. The power of this pyramid? Every task at the bottom should directly support a choice at the top. If you can't draw a line from your daily work to the company's vision, it's time to re-align. This model ensures your entire organization is cohesive, focused, and powerful. Agree? How do you ensure strategic alignment in your organization? #Strategy #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #Management #Execution #Vision #Entrepreneurship #Growth #EricPartaker