This helps you to look at all of the things you need to do, and how important each one
is. You can use a simple 5 point priority system to help you. This can be applied to
any area of your life e.g. family life, study, exercise programme or work. If applying it
to work it would look like this

Priority 1 - The Most Important
This covers the single, most important reason your job exists. Try to imagine the problems the company would face if your post no longer existed. (Do not think about this in personal terms, but focus instead on the role played by your job.) Above all else, why does the firm need that job?

Priority 2
This is the priority that covers the added value and quality that you can bring to the post. Is there something extra that your skills or experience enable you to do? Any elements of your work which need to be completed so you can qualify for bonus payments are also included here. These tasks are still very important, but are not quite as vital to your post as those in priority 1.

Priority 3
This is the section where you would include elements of personal or team development. This might include keeping up with the latest innovations in the company that affect your job or ensuring clear communication with colleagues and staff to support company goals.

Priority 4
The tasks here would include the systems and processes that might be thought of as the oil in the wheels. They are the things needed to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently. You might find that much of your paperwork or many maintenance or background tasks come into this category.

Priority 5
Tasks at this level could be described as the icing on the cake, but they still need to be done. They would probably not hold an important place in any written set of objectives for your job, but they add something to the way you work. They may include the things you do to take a longer term look at the future of the organisation.

Draw up a description of your 5 priority areas and then give
examples in each category to help you with your decision-making. The top priority
must be the reason your job was created. If you do not fulfill this function everything
else would fail. If applying the system to your life in general the top priority would
be your health. Once again without this being met everything else would fail.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Centre’s programmes click here, or if you would like some recommended reading material click here.