• Webesters defines a priority as: a preferential rating ; especially : one that allocates rights to goods and services usually in limited supply <that project has top priority>: something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives

Prioritize-Definition:

• To list or rate (as projects or goals) in order of priority

Priority Levels:

Establishing different priority levels can help sort tasks into short, mid and long-range tasks. A priority list must also clearly identify the importance of each task.  In order to effectively prioritize a task you must know when the task is due and how critical that task is to the success of your unit.  

Developing a Priority Chart will help sort projects by importance.   The below is an example that can be modified to include less priorities, more time etc.

Top 10 Priorities (0-7 days) 

The top 10 priorities are always your most important tasks.  Identifying these tasks is critical toward your ability to effectively prioritize. These spaces are normally reserved for the critical tasks that will have the biggest impact on your unit. These tasks should be reviewed and adjusted daily to ensure they are still top priorities and relevant to unit success.  

As circumstances dictate,  remove and/or replace a top priority with a lessor priority.  Reviewing and re-adjusting your Priority Chart daily is critical to ensure you have total visibility on the top tasks you should be focused on.  Doing this will ensure that you are only focused on those tasks most critical to unit success.   Anything that is a priority for your commander is probably something you should strongly consider as a top 10 priority.  

Failure to accomplish these tasks will have serious negative impacts on your unit.  Accomplishing these tasks will have a significant positive impact on your unit.

Priorities 11-50 (0-30 days)

The next priority grouping contains those priorities that are important (some may be critical) but not immediately relevant.  (Preparing to deploy for PTP in 1 month may be a critical task, but not as critical as 10 other taks that you have tomorrow and the rest of the week).  These tasks should be reviewed daily and when necessary critical tasks should be moved up to the top 10 list. 

Failure to accomplish any of these individual tasks may have a short or long term negative impact on your unit.

Priorities 51-75 (30 plus days) 

These are important and semi-important tasks.  Most routine tasks will probably fall into this category.  Nice-to-do tasks also fall in this category as well.   Review these tasks daily/weekly to ensure you have visibility on their status and re-adjust the list as necessary.  

Failure to accomplish any of these individual tasks will not have a short or long term negative impact on your unit.

Bottom 10 Priorities
 
These tasks are completely irrelevant to mission success.  Accomplishing these tasks amounts to busy work.  While you may look good doing them, they provide no benefit to your unit.  It is important to identify your bottom priorities in order to frame your list and identify what you shouldn't be doing.  If you're working on these priorities, you've got a real good handle on the other 95, or you better reassess your situation. 

Review and re-adjust your priority list daily as necessary. Your number 95 priority yesterday could become your # 1 priority today if the boss tells you to do it. 

By re-adjusting the list, you keep the nice-to-do tasks (bottom 90) from interfering with you ability to accomplish meaningful goals in the top 10. 

Resources:  Sample Priority Chart