Idea in short

The Action Priority Matrix is a simple tool which can help ensure you’re spending your time working on the right tasks in the correct order. By working on the right things consistently, you’ll experience improved results over the long-term.

Action Priority Matrix

The Action Priority Matrix is a 2×2 grid. On the X-axis we have the effort needed to complete a task, going from low to high. On the Y-axis, we have the impact on results completing a task will have. To use this tool, score your tasks or to-do list, first by effort and then by their impact. Then, place each task on the grid according to its score. The four quadrants are:

  1. Quick Wins
  2. Major Projects
  3. Fill Ins, and
  4. Thankless Tasks

Quick Wins

These are tasks requiring little effort but which have a high impact. As such, they are very attractive because they have high returns for a small outlay of energy. Completing quick wins should be your highest priority, and you should concentrate on these tasks as much as you can.

Major Projects

These are tasks that can give you significant results (impact), but unlike quick wins, they require you to invest a lot of time into them. These types of tasks should be your next priority after quick wins. You’ll need to invest a lot of time into these projects to get them done but be careful not to let these tasks consume all of your time.

Fill-Ins

These are tasks that require a low effort for you to perform, but they also have little impact on your results. As hinted at by the name, you use these tasks to fill in your time. You should only perform these tasks if you have the time available after working on your quick wins and major projects. Consider delegating these tasks if you have that as an option. Alternatively, consider dropping these tasks altogether if possible.

Thankless Tasks

These are tasks which have a low impact but which still require a high effort. You should aim to completely eliminate these tasks, as they are not worth your time to complete.

Using the Model

To use the model, follow these four steps:

  1. Make a complete list of all of your tasks.
  2. Score your tasks for effort and impact. You can use any scale you like to do this, but a simple 1-10 scale works well, where one is very low, and ten is very high.
  3. Place each activity in the matrix according to its effort and impact scores.
  4. Prioritize your activities:
  5. Give quick wins the highest priority.
  6. Spend the remaining time on your major projects. You should spend the majority of your time on these tasks.
  7. If you have any remaining time, do your fill-in activities. Otherwise, delegate or drop these tasks.
  8. Eliminate thankless tasks. Spend absolutely zero time performing these tasks.

The Action Priority Matrix is very closely related to the Eisenhower Matrix, which is used to prioritize a personal to-do list using urgency and importance.

Think Insights (March 29, 2024) Action Priority Matrix. Retrieved from https://thinkinsights.net/consulting/action-priority-matrix/.
"Action Priority Matrix." Think Insights - March 29, 2024, https://thinkinsights.net/consulting/action-priority-matrix/
Think Insights June 17, 2021 Action Priority Matrix., viewed March 29, 2024,<https://thinkinsights.net/consulting/action-priority-matrix/>
Think Insights - Action Priority Matrix. [Internet]. [Accessed March 29, 2024]. Available from: https://thinkinsights.net/consulting/action-priority-matrix/
"Action Priority Matrix." Think Insights - Accessed March 29, 2024. https://thinkinsights.net/consulting/action-priority-matrix/
"Action Priority Matrix." Think Insights [Online]. Available: https://thinkinsights.net/consulting/action-priority-matrix/. [Accessed: March 29, 2024]