80/20 Matrix Rule Template
Identify and Focus on the most important task that will generate the best results with the 80/20 Matrix Rule.
What is the 80/20 Rule?
The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, is the idea that roughly 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. In project management, this means that a small number of key tasks are responsible for the majority of your project’s success.
How to apply the 80/20 Rule to your Projects?
Applying this rule helps you work smarter, not harder. Follow these steps to find your high-impact tasks:
- List all tasks. Create a complete list of every task required for your project.
- Evaluate each task. For each task, determine its importance (how much it contributes to your project’s goals) and its urgency (how soon it needs to be done).
- Identify the top 20%. Based on your evaluation, pinpoint the 20% of tasks that have the biggest impact on your project’s outcomes. These are your top priorities.
- Focus and execute. Concentrate your time and energy on completing these high-priority tasks first. By doing this, you’ll ensure you’re making the most efficient use of your resources and accelerating your project’s progress.
Free Matrix to implement the 80/20 Rule
Google Sheets
Steps to Use the 80/20 Rule Matrix:
The 80/20 rule matrix is a prioritization tool that helps you focus on the most impactful tasks.
- List all tasks: Write down everything you need to do.
- Evaluate impact and effort: For each task, decide its impact (how much it contributes to your goals) and effort (how much time it will take).
- Plot tasks on the matrix. Place each task into one of four quadrants:
- Urgent, Important: Your top priorities. Do these first.
- Not Urgent, Important: Important long-term projects. Schedule these after your quick wins.
- Urgent, Not Important: Minor tasks. Do these in your spare time or delegate.
- Not Urgent, Not Important: Time-wasters. Avoid or delegate these.
- Prioritize and execute. Start with the urgent, important tasks to get the biggest results for the least amount of work.