Basic HTML Version
L
EARNING
TO
L
EARN
: B
ECOMING
A
S
ELF
-G
ROWER
121
E
XPERIENCE
5: T
IME
, P
LANNING
,
AND
P
RODUCTIVITY
READING
Action Priority Matrix: Impact and Effort
The Action Priority Matrix is somewhat similar to the Time Management Matrix though it is used for
a different purpose. Use the Action Priority Matrix to help you decide what
type
of task is the most
rewarding and efficient use of your time as you strive to meet your goals. The Matrix can also be
used as a way to take your time management pulse—to see what kinds of projects or tasks take up the
majority of your time.
IMPACT
EFFORT
High
Low
Low
High
Quick
Wins
Busy
Work
Running
in Place
Major
Projects
Impact
(the vertical axis) is the degree to which the task will advance your goals.
If your goal is earning a high grade on a math test, a high-impact task might be reviewing your
graded assignments and practicing any problems where you made mistakes.
For the same goal of a high grade on a math test, a low-impact task might include sharpening a
couple of extra pencils for use during the test. Or in the words of Henry David Thoreau, “It’s not
enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?”
Effort
(the horizontal axis) is the amount of time and energy required to accomplish a task.
Sharpening pencils is generally a low-effort task (unless you don’t have a pencil sharpener).
Creating a table of the types of errors you find yourself making when solving math problems, on
the other hand, is a much higher-effort task.
Tips for using the Action Priority Matrix:
•
Create a version of the Matrix that has space in all four squares where you can write down tasks
that you need or want to accomplish
•
Keep your Matrix with you so that you can add tasks as they occur to you
•
Remember that the Matrix doesn’t tell you
what
you should do; it is only a tool to help you
categorize your activities so that you can decide the most efficient and impactful use of your time.