Leaders must determine the highest priority task and execute it. When overwhelmed (happens quite frequently), fall back upon this principle: Prioritize and Execute. A leader can prevent pressure by staying one or two steps ahead by planning possible contingencies that can occur in the mission, briefing these contingencies to the team can enable them to act rapidly and execute when those problems arise. Priorities can rapidly shift and change when this happens, communication of that shift to the rest of the team, both up and down the chain of command, is critical.

1. Evaluate the highest priority problem
2. Lay out the highest priority in simple, clear, and concise terms
3. Develop and determine a solution, seek input
4. Direct the execution of that solution, focusing all efforts and resources toward this priority
5. Move on to the next higher priority problem
6. When priorities shift communicate both up and down the chain
7. Don’t let the focus on one priority cause target fixation

Conclusion: Identify the highest priority at the moment, develop a plan to tackle the priority, execute.

“Relax, look around, make a call”