You Cannot Have Two Priorities at a Time

The Problem with 'Priorities'

The 7 Dysfunctions of Leaders - Dysfunction 5: Dispersion

The modern concept of “priorities” is both etymologically incorrect and professionally counterproductive.

The word priority comes from the Latin prior, which means “the first.” For centuries, it was used to describe a single, most important thing. It wasn’t until the 20th century, particularly within the business world, that we started using the plural form “priorities,” a change fuelled by the belief that we could manage multiple important tasks at once. This shift has sometimes led to a chaotic world marked by burnout and ineffectiveness. We see it in many businesses or among politicians who promise too much and, as a result, fail to achieve meaningful results.

So, what if the solution were to return to the idea of having only one priority?

This principle can be applied at three levels:

Individual Level

We should reflect on our personal vision and what we truly want to achieve. While we can have different priorities throughout our lives, at any given time, we should choose one to focus on. For example, you might make your children’s success your single priority for a few months, postponing other goals or deprioritising them.

Small Business Level

Small businesses often fail by trying to be everything to everyone. While a business owner may have different goals—like developing a new product, a marketing campaign, and sales—it should choose one to dedicate its resources to for a set period, such as six months or a year. Focusing on two things at once, even if they seem to reinforce each other, prevents the “power of laser focus.”

Large Organisations

While this may seem unrealistic for bigger organisations, in reality they can be seen as a collection of smaller entities. Each of these smaller units—whether a product line, a geographical region, or a function—can and should focus on a single priority for a specific period, such as six to twelve months. This strategy works effectively, with organisations mobilising all their resources and focusing their attention on a specific goal.

As you return from your holiday, let us consider what your one priority should be until the end of the year.

Let me know your thoughts or experience on this.

I wish you a successful and focused time.