Short answer: Prioritise by impact and deadline: safety and client-critical work first, then anything due today, then the rest. Make the order visible so the team doesn’t have to guess.
A simple order
Safety issues.
Work that stops clients or colleagues.
Tasks due today.
Planned work.
Nice-to-haves.
Make priorities visible
Mark urgent tasks clearly and keep the list short. If more than a few things are urgent, the label stops meaning anything.
Re-prioritise openly
When something new jumps the queue, say what moves down. People can then tell clients and colleagues the truth.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides priorities?
The person responsible for the team’s results, usually the manager or team lead, with input from the people doing the work.
Try it with your team
Sort today’s open tasks into this order. Please Do It is free for 30 days, with no credit card required.