Dwight D. Eisenhower, president of the United States from 1953 to 1961, created and used a productivity method that many people still use some form of today. As president and with his previous role as a United States Army five-star general, Eisenhower knew how to determine which of his tasks were the most important to get done and which could wait.

He used the four standards described below to prioritize tasks.

Must Do Immediately

Eisenhower chose to complete tasks first that he had deemed urgent and important. Business professionals must reserve most of their time and energy during the day to complete anything with this classification. Urgent and important tasks must also take precedence over anything the businessman or businesswoman is currently working on.

Need to Do Soon

The next category of tasks are those that Eisenhower deemed important but not an emergency. These could include tasks that take considerable time that the person completing them doesn’t have at the moment. Important but not urgent tasks often involve many steps taken over a period of weeks or months. They deserve a regular spot on the calendar.

Must Complete in a Timely Fashion to Meet Goals

Eisenhower’s third standard of productivity included tasks that he considered urgent but not important. They include actions that people must take within a specified time frame such as responding to an email request. However, going past the deadline or not answering at all will have no impact on the long-term success of a company.

Save These Until Caught Up on Everything Else

Tasks deemed not urgent and not important are those that would be nice to complete but that will have no bearing on the business either way. It can include productivity tips and advice that a business professional heard of but that would not work well in his or her line of work.

Are you having trouble prioritizing your workload? If so, schedule an appointment with Purevue Capital for assistance today.