68.2 Mode of Action (வினைசெயல் வகை)

 68.2 Mode of Action (வினைசெயல் வகை)

Question:

How to prioritize the tasks?

Answer:

Tasks that may be done at leisure can be implemented slowly and

deliberately. But tasks requiring immediate attention should

not be delayed at all.                                                                        (Couplet – 672)

தூங்குக தூங்கிச் செயற்பால தூங்கற்க

தூங்காது செய்யும் வினை.                                                     (குறள் – 672)

Explanation:

In Couplet 672, Valluvar says that those tasks that can be delayed can be performed leisurely, whereas the ones that cannot be postponed should not be delayed. In other words, it is necessary to prioritize the tasks. The concept of prioritizing tasks is also important and applicable in our day-to-day life. There is a simple method for prioritizing the tasks known as the Eisenhower Principle, named after the US president, General Dwight Eisenhower. According to this principle, the tasks should be prioritized as follows: The important and urgent tasks must be done first. Tasks that are important but not urgent should be handled next. Tasks that are not important but urgent would belong to the next category of tasks to be performed. Lastly, tasks that are neither important nor urgent should be postponed, avoided, or delegated to other people, if possible. Stephen Covey, the American educator, author, and businessman, refers to this type of prioritization of tasks as “Habit three – Put first things first” in his famous book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It is really surprising that two thousand years ago, Valluvar thought about the prioritization of tasks.