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