2. EFFORT
20% 80%
RESULTS
THE 80-20
RULE
This rule is based on the assumption is that most of the results in any situation are
determined by a small number of causes.
It means that 80% of your outcomes come from 20% of your inputs.
3. URGENTURGENT
NOTURGENTNOTURGENT
NOT IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT
Q1 Q2
Q3 Q4
CRISIS PLANNING
INTERRUPTIONS TIME WASTERS
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
• Problems
• Firefighting
• Re-working
• Rush Deadlines
• Planning
• Preparation
• Relationship Building
• Personal development
• Walk ins
• Unexpected Calls/Meetings
• Socialising
• Social Media
• TV/Entertainment
Q1 – Important deadlines
with high urgency.
Q1 contains tasks and
responsibilities that need
immediate attention.
Q2 – Long-term
development & strategizing.
Q2 contains items that are
important without requiring
immediate action. Covey
points out that this quadrant
should be used for long-term
strategizing.
Q3– Distractions with high
urgency.
Q3 is reserved for tasks that
are urgent, without being
important. Covey
recommends minimizing or
even eliminating these tasks
as they do not contribute to
your output. Delegation is
also an option here.
Q4– activities with little to
no value
Q4 focuses on tasks and
responsibilities that do not
yield any value—items that
are unimportant and not
urgent. These time wasters
should be eliminated.
4. DO DECIDE
DELEGATE DELETE
DO IT NOW SCHEDULE A TIME
WHO CAN DO IT? ELIMINATE IT
URGENTURGENT
NOTURGENTNOTURGENT
NOT IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
TARGET TIME
ALLOTMENT: 5% TARGET TIME
ALLOTMENT: 75%
TARGET TIME
ALLOTMENT: 15
%
TARGET TIME
ALLOTMENT: 5%
Editor's Notes
Quadrant I – important deadlines with high urgency3
The first quadrant contains tasks and responsibilities that need immediate attention.
Quadrant II – long-term development and strategizing
The second quadrant is for items that are important without requiring immediate action. Covey points out that this quadrant should be used for long-term strategizing.
Quadrant III – distractions with high urgency
The third quadrant is reserved for tasks that are urgent, without being important. Covey recommends minimizing or even eliminating these tasks as they do not contribute to your output. Delegation is also an option here.
Quadrant IV – activities with little to no value
The fourth and last quadrant focuses on tasks and responsibilities that do not yield any value—items that are unimportant and not urgent. These time wasters should be eliminated at any costs.
Quadrant I – important deadlines with high urgency3
The first quadrant contains tasks and responsibilities that need immediate attention.
Quadrant II – long-term development and strategizing
The second quadrant is for items that are important without requiring immediate action. Covey points out that this quadrant should be used for long-term strategizing.
Quadrant III – distractions with high urgency
The third quadrant is reserved for tasks that are urgent, without being important. Covey recommends minimizing or even eliminating these tasks as they do not contribute to your output. Delegation is also an option here.
Quadrant IV – activities with little to no value
The fourth and last quadrant focuses on tasks and responsibilities that do not yield any value—items that are unimportant and not urgent. These time wasters should be eliminated at any costs.