
How to be a better chief of staff
The McKinsey Podcast
Insights on Prioritization and Organizational Strategies from Chiefs of Staff Forum
One key insight from the Chiefs of Staff Forum is the importance of prioritization, highlighting the concept of having five to six priorities at any given time, divided into 'tuxedo agenda' for outward-facing priorities and 'pajama agenda' for inward-facing ones. Additionally, another valuable strategy shared was maintaining a to-do list with three columns: 'now' for urgent tasks to be done by the end of the day or week, 'soon' for important but not urgent tasks by the end of the month, and 'never' for items that are unlikely to be achieved but should be acknowledged for future reference. These insights provide practical and effective organizational strategies applicable to various roles and daily life.