The Eisenhower matrix

The Eisenhower matrix is a prioritization tool that sorts tasks into four boxes along the axes of urgency and importance. Its name goes back to Dwight D. Eisenhower, to whom sayings about prioritization are attributed; Stephen Covey popularized this tool. Tasks fall out as both urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but unimportant, or neither urgent nor important. Most people's day fills with urgent but unimportant tasks, while important but non-urgent tasks are constantly postponed. In coaching, this tool makes visible where the client actually pours their time and helps them realign their priorities.