Sequence my tasks by dependencies and find the biggest blocker
Maps which tasks depend on which, finds what is blocking the most work, and gives you the most efficient order.
The prompt
Help me put my tasks in the right order.
Tasks: [PASTE - include deadlines, owners, and rough effort]
Known dependencies: [e.g. "can't build the dashboard until IT grants data access" - or "work them out"]
Things I'm waiting on from others: [DETAILS]
My available time: [e.g. "3 hours a day for the next 2 weeks"]
Steps:
1. Map dependencies: what must finish before each task can start. Mark any dependency you inferred as [INFERRED] so I can check it.
2. Identify the task that blocks the most downstream work, and any external wait holding things up.
3. Group tasks that share inputs, tools, or people so they can be done together.
4. Build the most efficient order: clear blockers first, start long waits early, then work through the rest by deadline.
Return:
1. Dependency table: | Task | Depends on | Blocks | Owner | Effort | Deadline |
2. The single biggest blocker, why it matters, and the fastest way to clear it, including a short nudge message if it's someone else's.
3. The recommended sequence, day by day or step by step.
4. Tasks I can do in parallel while waiting.
5. Risks: circular dependencies, deadlines that can't be met in this order, and single points of failure.
Keep it plain: a list and a table, no project-management jargon.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Productivity & Planning prompts
What to fill in
- PASTE - include deadlines, owners, and rough effort
- DETAILS
- e.g. "3 hours a day for the next 2 weeks"
- INFERRED
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the Few-Shot structure (Few-shot prompting). A few-shot prompt includes one or more worked examples of the input and the output you want, so the model can copy the pattern instead of guessing it.
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