Ask Coach: How Can IT Solutions Providers make Quadrant II Time More Effective

By Rich Anderson, executive coach with HTG Peer Groups

Q: What Should Solutions Providers Do During Quadrant II Time To Make IT More Effective?

A: Time for a bit of wisdom from Nebraska. Vietnam veteran, retired U.S. Senator from Nebraska, and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel once said that America would be better off if more of her leaders would spend more time looking out the window thinking. Warren Buffet, Omaha’s favorite son and the world’s most successful investor, has said the most important meeting he has every week is the meeting he has with himself. Strategic leaders spend time alone … thinking. That is wisdom.

Your question refers to Quadrant II.For those of you not familiar with Steven Covey’s time management matrix and its four quadrants, I will refer you to a recent BSM article written by my colleague, Laurie Sorensen. In her article, Laurie notes that “Quadrant II contains tasks that are not urgent but are important. These are the things that require us to be intentional in taking time to pursue them. Things like planning, relationship building, and even exercise fall in this quadrant. This is the time we spend focusing on opportunities, on strategic thinking, on our values.” 

I like to summarize the focus of Quadrant II as dedicated, regularly scheduled time when you intentionally engage in planning, preparation, prevention and re-creation across the important roles in your life.Depending on what you sense the focus of your Quadrant II time ought to be, the following may provide some help as you strive to make it more effective...

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