When Everything is an Emergency
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Upon making the switch to tech comes an introduction to new terms. Chief among these are P0, P1, P2, P3 and so on. This vocabulary indicates task ranking.
P likely came from priority and 0 means top. A P0 requires immediate attention; a team’s primary task. The top priority.
Daily and weekly meetings start with everyone listing their P0s and P1s. You’ll begin to notice there sure are a lot of P0s. So many in fact, it’s antithetical to the purpose of prioritization.
“I’ve got three P0s today.” Really? How is that possible? Shouldn’t it just be one?
This situation has at least two causes.
First, people in tech don’t like to say no. Direct communication is scarce. Dissembling is common. You learn to hear the no in someone’s tone, what they’re not saying and how others are reacting.
This isn’t the downside of a can-do ethos. It’s an aversion to confrontation. And not the conflict-type of confrontation. Clear and concise communication seems off the table. Unless it’s blunt feedback at the end of an interview loop.
Second, the P in P0 might actually come from please, as in pleasing a manager. Or a manager’s manager. Even more reasons for multiple P0s: lots of pet projects from the boss. Back to the importance of saying, “no,” when underlings lack the authority to own their schedule and focus, a poor manager dominates their work routine.
Best practice for the P0 game? Pick one and then list out the tactics for achieving the goal. What steps will you take today, tomorrow and next week? What help do you need from your team and management?
Modeling this approach shows your team how to break down a goal. Define the outcome. Spell out the necessary actions. Start with what needs doing now. The smart ones will begin copying your style. Then you’ll know who you can rely on.
All the Ps are here to stay. Might as well make ‘em work in your favor.
Absolutely, this is true! Prioritization and triaging problems are the name of the game. Get this right and you are on your way to having a productive team.