How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
The Task Triage Method helps ESOs manage their workload and workflow effectively by breaking tasks down into three key steps:
Step 1: Brain Dump & Quick Wins
Goal: Get everything out of your head and onto paper or a digital platform.
Write down every task—big or small.
Identify quick wins (tasks that take less than 10 minutes to complete).
Number these quick wins (1, 2, 3…) and complete them first to create momentum.
🔹 Example: Restocking med kits, updating a daily report, checking an incident log.
Step 2: Prioritize by Urgency & Impact
Goal: Sort remaining tasks based on importance and deadlines.
Hard Deadlines → Must be done by a specific time (e.g., compliance reports).
High-Impact Tasks → Will prevent major issues later (e.g., emergency response drill prep).
Time-Intensive Tasks → Require focused effort and planning (e.g., writing SOPs).
Assign an order of completion (4, 5, 6…) and a rough time estimate for each.
🔹 Example: Preparing for an upcoming emergency response audit or revising training plans.
Step 3: Execute with Focus
Goal: Work through your numbered list in order.
Stick to the estimated time per task.
Avoid jumping between tasks—one bite at a time.
At the end of the shift, review progress and adjust priorities for the next day.
🔹 Example: Completing an incident review before moving on to safety inspections.
🛠️Improving ESO Workflow by Implementing Task Triage with Digital Tools
The Task Triage Method works well with digital tools that help organize, prioritize, and track tasks. Here’s how you can apply it in Excel, Microsoft Teams Planner, and Trello.
📊 Using Excel for Task Triage
Create a Simple Spreadsheet with columns for:
Task Name
Priority (Quick Win / Deadline / High-Impact / Long-Term)
Estimated Time
Completion Status
Use Conditional Formatting to highlight urgent tasks.
Sort by Priority to focus on what matters most.
🔹 Best For: ESOs who prefer structured lists and manual control.
📌 Using Microsoft Teams Planner
Create a Planner Board with three buckets:
Quick Wins
High-Priority Tasks
Ongoing Projects
Drag tasks between categories as they progress.
Set Due Dates & Labels for visibility.
🔹 Best For: Teams who need shared access to task tracking.
🗂️ Using Trello for Task Triage
Set Up a Trello Board with the following columns:
🏁 To Do (Brain Dump)
⚡ Quick Wins
🚨 Urgent & Important
✅ Completed
Move tasks between columns as they progress.
Use Checklists & Due Dates for tracking details.
🔹 Best For: Visual task management and real-time updates.
🚀 ESOs Take Action: Try Task Triage Today
The Task Triage Method helps ESOs stay ahead, reduce stress, and get more done. Whether you prefer pen and paper, Excel, Teams, or Trello, find a system that works for you and stick with it.
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