PRIORITIZATION: OUR SUMMER PLAYBOOK
A SUMMER CHECK-IN: WHAT THIS SEASON HAS TAUGHT US ABOUT PRIORITIZATION
This summer, our team has juggled new clients, big life changes, planning for the rest of the year, and of course vacations.
Prioritizing quickly and clearly has made that possible. Summer naturally pulls in two directions: the desire to take PTO and enjoy a slower pace, and maintaining the pace and quality of work that drives the business forward.
This edition of At The Starting Line breaks down how we've held that balance, with a few takeaways you can apply to your own team.
WHAT DOES PRIORITIZATION LOOK LIKE?
At At The Start, our mission is to help create great places to work where people love what they do and how they do it. Making a real difference in employees' experience of work is the filter everything runs through.
This summer, that meant prioritizing client work that helps strengthen their own employee experience over other tasks and efforts that can wait.
To decide what gets our attention, we ask:
What matters most right now?
How are we measuring success?
What are the organization's top priorities?
What's lower-value right now, and okay to de-prioritize?
We've also used the Eisenhower Matrix to sort work:
Urgent + important: Do it now.
Important, not urgent: Schedule it.
Urgent, not important: Delegate it, if possible.
Neither: Eliminate or postpone it.
The result: we focus on what creates the greatest impact for our clients and our business, instead of just reacting to whatever's loudest.
COMMUNICATE LESS – BUT COMMUNICATE BETTER
When people's personal lives get busier, clear communication matters even more than usual.
On expectations
Set realistic timelines
Plan early for vacation coverage
Protect real disconnection during PTO
Be explicit about deadlines, responsiveness, and availability
Be flexible and support each other so everyone benefits
Announcements and updates
We've kept to our weekly team touchpoint and Slack for everything else. We focus on fewer channels and clearer expectations. We know it works because we see it in volume, quality and feedback from our clients and our peers.
THE BEAUTY OF KNOWING WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT
Summer has a way of reminding us that time is one of our scarcest resources. Helping people prioritize well builds a culture where they can do great work without being pulled in every direction. That applies for our team, and for the clients we support.
Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is decide what doesn't need to happen today.
See the original post from July 29, 2026 here.