How to Prioritize When Everything Feels Important

Oct 19

2 min read

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Three I's and three questions to help you decide what to advance—and what can wait.

For school leaders, a full plate is a given. The harder question is how to choose among the things on it.

A parent needs an answer. A colleague needs support. The board wants progress. Each deserves consideration, and you have only so much time and attention to give.

To help prioritize and decide where to focus, consider–

The Three I’s: Impact, Importance, and Influence.

Impact: What difference would this make?

Look beyond getting something done. Would it meaningfully improve students’ experience, strengthen teaching, or help your team succeed? Who would benefit—and how?

Importance: Why does this matter now?

Consider its connection to your school’s mission and current commitments. What is the cost of waiting? What would you have to set aside to give it attention?

Influence: What would it take to move this forward?

Consider your authority, relationships, and resources. Can you act directly, or do you need others alongside you? If you’re not yet positioned to make progress, your next step may be to build support or clarify who owns the decision.

Try this before planning your next week:

Choose three things competing for your attention. Ask these questions about each. Then decide what to advance, what to prepare for, and what can wait.

Some demands will still require an immediate response. These questions help you prioritize and make deliberate choices about your time and attention.

At TheLeaderNetwork, our coaching partnerships and Roundtables give school leaders space to work through these choices, test their thinking, and identify practical next steps.

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