5
When asked which quadrant we should be spending
our time in, people readily answer: Q2. When asked
which quadrants we actually spend our time in, people
hesitantly confess: Q1, Q3 and Q4. The truth is that we
spend time in all four quadrants. However, the more
time we spend in Q2 (where the situation has a high
sense of importance and a low sense of urgency), the
less time we are forced to spend in the other quadrants.
It is especially clear that if project managers spend
more time planning in Q2, they will have fewer fire-drill
situations. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to put
this into practice.
Exhibit 1: The Time Matrix
2
URGENT NOT URGENT
• Crisis
• Pressing problems
• Emergencies
• Deadlines
• Preparation
• Prevention
• Planning
• Relationship building
• Values clarification
• Needleless interruptions
• Some meetings
• Other people's minor issues
• Trivia, busywork
• Time wasters
• "Escape" activities
IMPORTANT
NOT
IMPORTANT
