Hiya

When learning to change from open to barre chords, how important is it to place the barre first?

I understand that it's generally good practice to get the bottom note in position first for any chord, but for barre chords I'm finding it particularly difficult.

When I place the barre first, my subsequent finger placement will nearly always drag the barre out of position anyway. When I place the fingers first, they seem to act as a good guide for the barre, and pretty reliable, but obviously slower and it just sounds clumsy.

Anyway, realise that ultimately I should be aiming to do the whole movement at once but no idea if my technique is holding me up.

Thanks!