Knowledge Base · Time
What is the Eisenhower Matrix, and how do I use it?
The Eisenhower Matrix is a 2x2 grid that sorts tasks by urgency and importance, so you can decide what to do, schedule, delegate or delete. Urgent and important work is done now, important but not urgent work is scheduled, urgent but not important work is delegated where possible, and work that is neither is deleted. Leaders should aim to live in the second quadrant.
The book credits the matrix to a quote from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, popularised by Stephen Covey. Its value is that it forces a distinction people constantly blur: urgent is not the same as important.
- Quadrant 1, Urgent and Important (Do): crises, pressing problems and deadline-driven projects. Deal with these now, and work to have fewer of them.
- Quadrant 2, Not Urgent and Important (Schedule): strategic planning, relationship building, new opportunities and personal development. The book calls this the sweet spot, and it is where your big rocks sit.
- Quadrant 3, Urgent and Not Important (Delegate): interruptions, some meetings and many emails. Delegate, automate or politely decline these where you can.
- Quadrant 4, Not Urgent and Not Important (Delete): time-wasters and mindless distractions. Avoid this quadrant as much as possible.
To use it, take your current to-do list and sort every item into a quadrant. In the book's case study, a landscaping business owner saw how much of his day went on urgent but unimportant tasks, delegated scheduling and equipment runs to his lead foreman, and freed time for marketing and financial planning.
Sort your list in the free Priority Matrix
Related questions
- How do I prioritise when everything feels urgent?
- What are "big rocks" in time management?
- How do I protect time for focused work?
Source: Continuous Improvement in the Workplace, Ch. 11 (Time Management) and the CI glossary in the book's Appendix.