Your #todo# list is a reflection of your team’s priorities

Every product manager (PM) has a longer #todo# and #not-todo# list than they would like.

Good PMs learn early to be efficient with their time, prioritize their calendar ruthlessly and have high awareness of which communication channels to leverage to keep the team moving forward.

Then why is this #todo# list always hovering?

It is because this is not merely a list of tasks - it is a reflection of your team’s priorities and an expression of what your team needs the most.

When you, as a PM, prioritize this list, you are essentially determining what your team will eventually prioritize and which direction will the strategy and / or execution go towards.

The biggest catch here is that there is always a trade-off - time is an extremely limited resource, That is why spending those 15-20 minutes prioritizing your list of things to do for the day / week is a good investment to avoid any unfavorable trade-offs for your team.

Why does this matter?

Now that you know that this #todo# list is not just about you finishing the day but also about what your team will do, you can think more rigorously about what needs your time vs what can be delegated to others in the team.

The goal is never to eliminate the #todo# list. It is to ensure the right items make it to the top of the pile.

Next time you are stressed under the burden of a heavy #todo# list as a PM, remind yourself that this is not your list alone. Look at it side-by-side with your team’s strategy to understand what to say no to and what to delegate to stakeholders.