JUGGLING TASKS

Here is a simple visual metaphor for Juggling tasks.
It is called "Rubber Balls & Glass Balls".
When juggling multiple tasks, we (& colleagues) often fall into the trap of focusing on the tasks we prefer rather then in order of importance.
If you catagorise a task as a 'Glass Ball' then it won't bounce if dropped like the other 'Rubber Ball' tasks. This is useful for sorting tasks for the day rather than big projects. You say to yourself "Which tasks must I complete (or must my team complete) by the end of the day before they smash like a glass ball"
Remember that if you let the Rubber Balls bounce for too many days they will stop bouncing, so you need to re-classify them as Glass Balls on the day they are due. I have found this metaphor very helpful for staff who say "I'm so busy I didn't get a chance to complete that task". Now I help them sort out the Glass from the Rubber balls, so they dont get distracted by catching the more enjoyable Rubber Ball tasks first.