What does PRIORITIZATION look like for a 3M Chem Ops People Leader?
Prioritization is choosing what matters most—and letting go of what doesn’t.
Leaders prioritize work that drives the greatest results.
Prioritization actions:
Identify the top 3–5 priorities tied to enterprise goals.
Clearly communicate what is most important—and why.
Focus the team on outcomes, not activity.
Stop, delay, or simplify low-value work.
Align resources to the highest-impact priorities.
Review priorities regularly and adjust as needed.
“I know what matters most right now.”
Leaders challenge existing work to ensure it still adds value.
Prioritization actions:
Question whether the current work is still necessary.
Ask, “What can we stop or simplify?”
Encourage teams to suggest lower-value work to remove.
Use data to compare impact versus effort.
Make clear trade-off decisions.
Support change when priorities shift.
“It’s okay to stop doing work that no longer matters.”
Leaders prioritize with clarity and follow-through.
Prioritization actions:
Set clear priorities before assigning tasks.
Define success and timelines for each priority.
Hold the team accountable to agreed priorities.
Avoid adding work without removing something else.
Track progress on top priorities.
Reinforce focus during meetings and reviews.
“Priorities are clear and consistent.”
Leaders reduce overload and help teams focus their energy.
Prioritization actions:
Help the team understand how their work fits the bigger picture.
Protect time for the most important work.
Reduce distractions and unnecessary meetings.
Acknowledge workload and capacity limits.
Celebrate progress on key priorities.
Encourage healthy focus, not constant urgency.
“My leader helps me focus, not feel overwhelmed.”
Leaders prioritize in ways that respect people, safety, and values.
Prioritization actions:
Never compromise safety or ethics for speed.
Consider team capacity when setting priorities.
Communicate changes early and clearly.
Make trade-offs transparently and fairly.
Respect personal time and workload limits.
Model balanced and thoughtful decision-making.
“Our priorities respect people and values.”