Stop asking “what’s the priority?”. Ask this instead

Jul 14, 2025 6:16 am

Hi


I used to ask, “what’s the priority?”


It sounds smart. But it’s useless.


Because people don’t have a stack-ranked list. They have vibes. Deadlines. Politics. Fear.


So now I ask this instead:


What happens if we don’t do this?


It slices through the noise. Fast.


If the answer is “not much,” I park it. If the answer is “someone’s blocked,” I move.


Takeaway: Priority isn’t about importance. It’s about impact of delay.


Try this: Ask that one question in your next standup. Then shut up. You’ll learn more than any status doc can tell you.


P.S: If you’re tired of juggling 9 urgent things and still being told you’re too slow, The Data Leader’s Influence System will teach you how to push back with confidence.


Until next time,

Yordan

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