How To Manage Competing Priorities At Work

Being successful as a Principal, teacher or - let’s just say - anyone in the school system is hard work. From parent enquiries to event-managing book week and so many tasks in between, it’s no wonder work-related stress is on the rise.

Here are our top six tips to manage competing priorities in your day to day work:

1. Understand what your priorities are

Accept that there will always be more work than time. To deal with this, we need to identify both the urgent and important tasks. Ideally this would happen at the start of each day – but better late than never!

A good old-fashioned list is still a great way to go but there are also many digital tools available to help you. 

2. Practice self-awareness and honesty (two of Life Skills Group’s values!)

When creating your list of priorities for the day, be honest about what you can achieve. Setting yourself unrealistic goals can only end in disappointment. Be kind to yourself.

3. Be flexible

We don’t mean daily yoga stretches – although we think that would help too! To manage your priorities, you also need to be ready when things are added to your pile. Take each task as it comes and assess whether it’s urgent or important (or not!)

4. Know when to let go

If you’re a perfectionist, you might struggle with this one. It’s easy to get caught up in small details and spend more time on a task than necessary.

Bear in mind that by doing so, you’re taking precious time away from something else. Do a good, solid job and then let it go and move on!

5. Outsource where possible

This is where teamwork can come in – another one of Life Skills Group’s values! Know your own strengths, as well as your colleagues' strengths and interests. Match different tasks to different people’s strengths and not only will you be a more efficient team but people will be working on things they enjoy.

6. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness doesn’t always need formal meditation. You can practice mindfulness when giving your full attention and focus to the task at hand. Each time your mind wanders to the conversation you had in the staff room that morning or your planning for next year, acknowledge the thought and then bring your attention back to your task.

Mindful listening is another great one for the workplace. Try listening to your colleagues with your full attention and be careful not to cut them off or finish their sentences.

If you need more help with managing competing priorities and developing mindful habits at work, contact us to book in a Life Skills Group Professional Development session.