The Action Priority Matrix

Making the very most of your opportunities
(Also, the Impact Feasibility Matrix)

A quick win: high impact, low effort.

© iStockphoto/OnyxRain

The Action Priority Matrix is a simple diagramming technique that helps you choose which activities to prioritize and which ones you should drop if you want to make the most of your time and opportunities.

It's useful because most of us have many more activities on our "wish lists" – whether these are bright ideas to pursue, exciting opportunities or interesting possibilities – than we have time available. By choosing activities intelligently, you can make the very most of your time and opportunities.

However by choosing badly, you can quickly bog yourself down in time-consuming, low-yield projects that close down opportunities and stop you moving forwards.

How to Use the Tool:

Figure 1 below shows the basic form of the Action Priority Matrix:

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