Trouble making time for work that matters? Try the $10 Game

The post argues that urgent requests and shifting tasks pull attention away from high-impact work. Atlassian says a weekly budget for priorities, reviewed with a manager, can help people focus on the work that matters most.

Reading notes

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• Urgent requests and shifting tasks often pull focus away from high-impact projects.
• Atlassian’s Teamwork Lab says a weekly priority budget, reworked with a manager, is a simple solution.
• The $10 Game asks employees to allocate a fictional $10 across tasks and projects for the week.
• In a one-week cohort of 34 Atlassians, the team surveyed participants before and after the game and also gathered manager responses.
• After the game, direct reports were clearer on goals and more confident they had prioritized the right tasks.
• Alignment between managers and direct reports increased, especially around how time was spent.
• 91% of direct reports said they made progress on top priorities after playing the game.
• 89% of direct reports would recommend the game, and six out of 10 plan to keep using it.
• The post says the game helps counter cognitive biases that affect decision-making and work priorities.
• Atlassian frames productivity as doing what truly matters rather than doing more.