In recent staff/organizational development discussions…the “how do you get better at prioritizing for your workplace?” has been a primary topic.  I first told them I believe the improvement approaches vary by individual…but to get a better visual of the prioritization challenge the group had fun taking part in a couple mind exercises.

First, I asked the group to think about all the messages they receive each day via telephone, in-person, email, newspaper, television, social media, etc.  And consider each message as a “sticky-note” …color coordinated by source…all placed on a white board.  There were laughs and gasps…but all seemed to understand how overwhelming that would be for just one day.  The exercise concluded when I asked them to view their imaginary boards and determine if they can see specific priorities coming through…or are their boards more like those pictures that you can’t see an image unless someone points it out to you?!?

Think about it!

The second exercise had everyone visualize your messages trying to be funneled into your brain…and a smaller “pipe” showing priorities exiting your brain.  Again, the giggles…but more importantly was the realization of what do you do with all of that excess messaging information taking up space in your mind?

This is another time management area where SIMPLICITY MATTERS!  As messages come to you it is critical to ask: What is wanted or needed to make it a priority…before making decision room for details.  Also, identifying the timeframes for action is a screening tool for priority setting that will assist in opening (or closing) the messaging input funnel.  Additionally, it is YOUR responsibility to inform message senders of your process for priority setting and that they too must understand that SIMPLICITY MATTERS.

Life working on the frontline often has a feeling of isolation. Most times your main line of COMMUNICATION rests with co-workers and first-tier management.  Contact and discussion time with those at the top levels of business/organization operations are often infrequent and “courtesy-call-ish” in nature.  The resulting personnel activity usually follows a common track:

• Internal complaining
• Business remains stagnant
• Work activity continues but…with minimal leadership influence
• Workplace “hiding-spots” develop for frontliners and top-level leaders (i.e. He or she is just too busy or “Does Anyone Hear ME…US?” anyway)

Well for this TRIPLE III TIME message…I am going to push the responsibility for COMMUNICATION in the direction of the frontliners.  Think about these ideas:

1. When did you last send a direct request for a meeting with the lead person(s)?
2. Have you ever structured a formal agenda to share with leaders as part of your meeting request…IN WRITING?
3. Because we live in a SHOW-ME WORLD… what new service/product/operation are you ready to show them?
4. Do you make sure your request is all business and not a personal visit moment?
5. If you work with a team…are they all involved in the leader meeting request idea?
6. Are you prepared for whatever form of feedback may result (i.e. professional discomfort)?
7. Is the information you wish to discuss progressive/action-based?
8. Have you considered a very specific meeting timeframe (i.e. one (1) hour)?
9. What meeting structures have you considered to make sure it can NOT become a whining session?
10. Finally be sure to identify the 1 or 2 or 3 priorities for the visit (i.e. take-home ideas)

BOTTOMLINE:  Leadership is a two-way street…and as frontline leaders it is more than appropriate for you to take the meeting request initiative.