Prioritization Under Pressure
As leaders, we live in a constant battle against time. Prioritization is perhaps the hardest part of the job: choosing where to focus, when to delegate, and what to let go.
When priorities misalign or go unaddressed, the consequences are inevitable: strained relationships and underwhelming outcomes. This post shares two frameworks that have helped me catch prioritization problems before they escalate: a proactive process for alignment and leading indicators of failure.
A Process for Prioritization Alignment
At its core, prioritization is about aligning your actions with your company’s objectives and communicating those choices effectively. Here’s the simple three-step process I use.
Align priorities with company objectives. If critical personal priorities don’t reflect your company’s strategic goals, escalate your perspective to your manager and peer leaders (your “first team,” per Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team). Be prepared to adapt if the broader team’s objectives can’t flex.
Communicate your plan. Once you’ve aligned your priorities, make them known, particularly to your managers, peer leaders, and reports. Use clear, decisive language like “I intend to” or “UIHO” (Unless I Hear Otherwise). This unblocks progress while inviting feedback. Highlight key risks, like limited capacity or expertise, to keep leadership informed and involved.
Act with discipline. Execute your plan while staying adaptable. Address urgent issues without losing focus on your top priorities. If something critical and truly disruptive arises, revisit steps 1 and 2 to realign.
These may sound basic, but I often see missteps. In particular, the communications in steps 1 and 2 are essential. Once, I failed to escalate misaligned priorities. The broader organization was conflicted about direction, I wanted my teams to ship, and I thought alignment would be too costly and unnecessary. I was wrong. While alignment might have delayed progress by days, wasted work cost weeks and left the team even more frustrated.
Another time, I neglected to fully communicate my plan to my peers. When someone in GTM raised a concern, a peer unknowingly threw me under the bus because I hadn’t shared my prioritization. This small omission escalated into a complaint about me to my boss and a trust deficit with the sales and AM teams. It was a tough lesson that underscored the importance of visibility.
Leading Indicators of Prioritization Problems
While lagging indicators—like missed deadlines or frustrated stakeholders—are obvious, they’re also costly. The real challenge is spotting problems before they become critical.
Here are three early warning signs that I’ve learned to watch for in myself.
“I didn’t have time.” Time isn’t the issue. Prioritization is. If I can’t say “I didn’t prioritize that” with intentionality, it’s a red flag that I’m losing control of my focus.
Delayed feedback or verification. When I delegate tasks but fail to provide timely feedback, it signals I’m overcommitted or mismanaging my priorities. Delegation requires follow-through.
Defensiveness. Feeling defensive about what I did or didn’t get done often reveals underlying misalignment. Physical tells in my body (e.g., tight shoulders, stiff facial posture) are subtle but powerful indicators that something needs attention.
When I notice these signals, I take a step back and look for action.
Revisit objectives: Are my actions aligned with the company’s priorities?
Evaluate options: Can something be dropped, postponed, delegated, purchased, or automated?
Reassess the process: Do I need to realign with my manager, peers, or team?
Leadership is about navigating complexity and uncertainty. By staying vigilant for these early indicators, I’ve been able to adjust course before small misalignments turn into big problems.
Closing Thoughts
Prioritization isn’t just a tactical challenge—it’s a reflection of leadership at its core. Aligning with company goals, communicating plans effectively, and staying alert to early warning signs are critical skills. I continue to hone them.
What are your leading indicators of prioritization problems? How do you maintain focus when time is tight? I’d love to learn from your experiences.
