It's week 2, you've set your business and personal goals for 2011 and have a crystal clear picture of where you want to be in 12 months time.

OK, so you haven't booked the gym membership yet to meet the 'Get Fitter' goal.

But you took the first step and invested in those 'aeropump' trainers at the weekend.

There's a simple lesson from the sphere of crisis management planning that will help us keep to priorities in the normal run of business life.

One of my recent projects, which coincided with visioncasting for my own year ahead, was to produce a crisis management strategy for a PR client.

The draft strategy includes two simple questions to help with priority-setting in a crisis:

These are a reminder to focus minds both on the big picture and the main action to take now, when 'all around you are losing their head' during an incident.

As a crisis unfolds, say an industrial accident or a disease outbreak, the ideal outcome (SDO) stays constant.

But the main action (KFN) for the crisis team shifts from one priority action to the next.

There's little margin for error as time could cost lives, money, or the future of the business, so focus is vital.

It struck me that asking the two questions regularly will help us stay focused when we're not in the heat of a crisis.

You can print this issue and cut out the block below if you wish and keep them somewhere visible.

Walter Elliot once said, "Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after another."

Establish your priorities continuously - be in the right small races - by acting as if you are under pressure.

That way, you will progress more effectively to your meeting you desired outcome. 

What's your Key Focus Now?