A senior healthcare leader recently shared their biggest daily struggle with me: “There’s always more to do than time allows. How do I know what to tackle first?”
Sound familiar? In healthcare, where urgency and complexity never take a break, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The key to cutting through the noise? Prioritisation. It’s your leadership compass.
- For CEOs, it’s about the top 5 to 10 strategic goals shaping the future
- For executives, it’s what must happen in the next 3 to 6 months to drive success
- For managers, it’s what needs to be delivered this week and in the next quarter
Without clear priorities, it’s easy to stay busy—but not necessarily effective.
One simple yet powerful habit. Start each day by writing down your five most important tasks, rank them, and tackle the first one before moving on. If you complete just two or three, that’s progress—because you’re focused on what truly matters.
This approach, known as the Ivy Lee Method, has helped leaders for over a century. Research backs it up: structured prioritisation reduces decision fatigue and boosts effectiveness.
As Stephen Covey wisely said: “The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Healthcare leadership is demanding, but small, intentional actions—like disciplined prioritisation—can make a world of difference.
Healthcare leadership is challenging, yet small, deliberate actions—such as disciplined prioritisation—can have a significant impact
