Understanding the difference between Urgent and Important is key to being able to improve your own performance and those of others.

1. Urgent / Important
Matrix

2. Urgent/Important Matrix
2
Key Goals
These activities help you achieve your goals, and complete
important work. You need to have plenty of time to do
these things properly, so that they do not become urgent.
Remember to allow time in your schedule to deal with
unforeseen problems as this will help to keep on time and
avoid work becoming more urgent than necessary.
Critical Activities
Important activities have an outcome that helps to
achieve your goals. Urgent activities demand immediate
attention, and are often part of someone else's goals.
Urgent tasks are likely to have an immediate or past
deadline. Urgent tasks are not always time consuming,
effort intensive or connected to an important task.
Important tasks have a direct impact on your goals, but do
not always have a have a deadline looming.
Distractions
These activities should be avoided if possible. Some can
simply be rescheduled, cancelled or ignored. Some are
activities that other people may want you to do, but they
do not contribute to your own desired outcomes. Either
say "No" politely or defer until a more appropriate time.
Interruptions
These activities stop you achieving your goals, and prevent
you from completing your work. Ask whether these tasks
can be rescheduled, or whether you can delegate them.
A common source of such interruptions is from other
people in your office. Sometimes it's appropriate to politely
say "No" to people or schedule a more convenient time to
talk. By doing this, you'll be able to concentrate on your
important activities for longer periods of time.
Important
Low
High
High
Urgent