Prioritizing task- accountability vs. responsibility

Prioritizing task- accountability vs. responsibility

One of the questions most of the managers use to ask “I have many tasks to perform in a day, how to prioritize? They are smart people and are already practicing the discipline of having a “To do checklist.” However, they left the office with the feeling of Incompleteness.

The feeling of incompleteness arises due to being busy with many tasks, but not much impact on growth. The solution is to prioritize the job based on accountability and responsibility basis.

Should the individual introspect and answer, “am I predominately doing on “my accountable task” or “my responsibility task”?

Am I doing justification for my position by doing those tasks predominately?

The above question will enable the individual to prioritize well.

For example, if you are a CEO or business head, your accountability is to ensure business profitability, stability, and growth. Your predominate task must be in line with your accountability. That is prioritization. Suppose if you do most of the activities which you claim as you are responsible, like chasing the production targets, microanalysis on your subordinate’s job, updating the customers on despatch status, then you are not prioritizing your tasks. Even though you are responsible for some of the activities which you can delegate.

Similarly, as supply chain head, one of your accountabilities is to ensure cost optimization, and you only can do that, that is, prioritization for you. The other responsibility tasks like signing every purchase order, followup with vendors, etc. can be delegated.

The key for prioritization is that we need clarity on our accountability and responsibility. Then need to learn to delegate the responsibility task to others. The clarity will enable you to prioritize your job.

However, there is some reservation on delegating the task, and we will discuss it next week!