The Art of Sequencing

I have The Cure’s new album (Songs Of A Lost World, their first in 16 years) on repeat since it came out on Nov 1. It’s fantastic if you haven’t checked it out yet.

Robert (Smith) has about three albums’ worth of music in the can. SOALW was originally slated to have around 13 tracks, but he’s said in recent interviews that he edited it down to the eight tracks he thought would create the best, most intentional listening experience.

Rabbit hole-ing into “Curevember” (which is quickly going to become “Curecember”; IYKYK ??) has me slightly obsessed with the Art of Sequencing these days.

About the art of choice in an album's tracks that makes it really good (or a tight sequence of episodes in a TV series; I'm assuming for good content / writing in both cases).

It’s a central skill for musicians, producers, marketers, and content creators alike, but it’s also incredibly applicable to project managers and teams.

What Sequencing “Is”

In music, Sequencing refers to arranging sections of music (notes, chords, etc.) or the order of tracks on an album or EP. It’s subjective to the artist’s vision but critical to the listener experience.

For me, more music on a Cure album is always welcome. But the intention Robert brought to editing SOALW into eight tracks created an equally brilliant experience (of course I don’t have a 13-track SOALW as a comparison point).

The same concept applies to content or marketing strategies — the sequence of an email campaign or content series is key to aligning with your audience’s journey.

( Chris Brogan explored this brilliantly in a recent edition of his weekly newsletter. Think episodic content. You should sign up for it here.)

Sequencing in Project Management

It might seem obvious, but good project management and execution are all about intentional sequencing and Flow.

It’s more than just checking boxes (although that does give me wonderful dopamine hits). It’s about creating a narrative that guides your team from conception to the final deliverable.

Just like a well-sequenced album or an 8-10 episode season on your favorite streamer (Familia de Medianoche or the latest season of The Diplomat, anyone?), a well-structured project builds momentum and gives each milestone a purpose, keeping everyone aligned, engaged, and drawing from a collective well of purpose and joy.

TRY THIS: Use a “peaks and valleys” approach when planning phases. Balance high-focus periods (like pre-launch or event deadlines) with reflective stages (like reviews or adjustments). Sequencing this way ensures your team’s rhythm supports productivity without burnout.

In the event business I’m in, that might be the month or the two weeks leading up to an event’s website or marketing launch, or it might be a pricing deadline — or an imminent, planned announcement about a significant program or speaker announcement that we think will drive a bump in ticket sales.

We should also be building in natural pauses into our projec plans, for reflection, to keep projects fresh.

This ensures your team has a rhythm that supports the vision and Good Work, without burnout.

TRY THIS: Try holding a periodic team reflection session (which can be done in-person or async) to assess what’s working, what’s not, and what the team needs to move forward with confidence.

Something as simple as a “What should we start/stop/continue?” exercise can provide the insight and clarity needed to adjust sequencing in real time and keep the momentum going.

Sequencing in Async Work Structures

For those of you working in async structures (high fives to you!), sequencing often means getting really good at simplifying and prioritizing — and helping your colleagues do the same.

A “less is more” approach allows teams to focus on tasks and milestones that truly matter, preventing burnout and creating clarity around the project’s core goals.

TRY THIS: A simple framework like "Must-Should-Could" (or Red-Yellow-Green…or Yahsss!-Meh-Nah’ - whatever you want to use as labels) when sequencing tasks.

When building out a fresh project plan, focus first on what absolutely must get done to move the project forward. That’s your milestones or your big quarterly or monthly goals.

Then layer in supporting work. In an async environment, this helps with natural prioritization and reduces decision fatigue for everyone involved.

It’s the classic big rock/small rock challenge: put the big rocks (major goals) in the jar first, then the small rocks (supporting work), and finally the gravel (daily tasks) around those.

Async collaboration benefits from thoughtful sequencing of team tasks. Assign work to leverage individual strengths, which reduces cognitive load and ensures focus. Personally, I love using a Gantt chart in tools like Asana or ClickUp to visualize sequencing and project flow.

Whether in music, marketing, content creation, or managing projects and async teams, the Art of Sequencing is about creating a container for Flow. It connects each step meaningfully to the next, aligning tasks and affirming team talents and work styles.

Just like a well-sequenced album (seriously, check out Songs Of A Lost World ??) guides listeners on an intentional journey, thoughtful sequencing in projects and async work empowers teams to stay connected to the Big Hairy Goal and accomplish more with clarity and intention.

Founders and org/team leaders - looking for help with your upcoming projects or with remote/async strategy? Let's chat! I've been crafting/leading both for many moons. Send me a DM or an email to [email protected].