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August 30, 2005
Where is your Focus?
I just finished presenting the second day of GTD for a great group in Colorado Springs. I love this second day of the seminar because it really seems to open people up to new ideas and creativity they may not have thought of before. Particularly after they've sat through the first day of the seminar and realize how many agreements they've made in the world!
There's a part of the seminar where I asked them to do a mindmap of one of their projects. When they finished, some of the participants shared that their internal "yah-but's.." were coming in on some of the things they were writing down. I then asked them to do another mindmap on the exact same project, this time parking any negative thinking and instead thinking of WILD SUCCESS. They had a completely different experience and seem to have a whole different attitude and positive focus about their project.
Posted by Kelly at 05:13 PM
August 25, 2005
The Power of Someday/Maybe
A Someday/Maybe does not necessarily mean a Someday/Never list. I often see people hesitant to put things on that list, fearing it will never come around again.
I use that list to incubate all sorts of things, some even just for a few months, if I'm not committed to it yet or just can't do it right now. Even fantastic ideas that would be great to do, I'll put on my Someday/Maybe list. I've had things on there for years that just keep rolling along (go to Machu Pichu, learn Italian) and some things are just there until I can get to them (work on a GTD guide for Notes users, get voice recognition software.)
My only commitment to the Someday/Maybe list is reviewing it. That's all. But parking things on that list relieves the stress that I need to DO it now. Reviewing that list it in my weekly review (which takes all of about 20 seconds) gives me a chance to check in on it to ask, "now?"
Posted by Kelly at 05:06 AM | Comments (4)
August 21, 2005
A shout out for The RoadMap
I first sat through a seminar with David Allen back in 1991. I am still in awe when I sit through them with David now, like the recent Santa Monica RoadMap seminar. My words to him at the break were something like "this is f*%#*ng brilliant!" The new seminar inspired me to take a bigger look at my own stuff and where I'm placing my energy and focus. And as a facilitator, it reminded me why we teach this. Get yourself to one of The RoadMap seminars. They really are fantastic:
LONDON
September 08
CHICAGO
September 14
MINNEAPOLIS
September 22
BOSTON
September 30
WASHINGTON DC
October 26
SEATTLE
November 11
Posted by Kelly at 09:47 AM | Comments (2)
August 16, 2005
How to make GTD stick
A typical question that I get asked after leading seminars or coaching someone is how to make GTD stick. I think implementing any of this can help your productivity, so pick something from this methodology that really resonates with you and start with that one thing. Then next week add another thing. Then the week after, add another. Before you know it you've got a whole toolbox of tips and tricks to increase your productivity.
I led a Managing Workflow seminar today in Pennsylvania. Here are some of the key takeaways the group shared that they were going to use to get started with GTD:
The Two Minute Rule - if you can take an action in less than 2 minutes, do it now.
Context lists - organize your to do lists based on where you can take the action, rather than what the action is related to.
Create Action and Waiting For folders in email and in hard copy for your desk. If you're a Notes user, start the folder name with a dash, like "-Action" so that is sorts at the top of your folders. If you're on Outlook, use the @ symbol, like "@Action".
Do a weekly review - once a week, turn off your input to get current and creative with your system, so that you can get some alitude from the day-to-day grind.
Posted by Kelly at 02:08 PM
August 10, 2005
Tracking delegation
Many times in GTD workflow coachings I see managers hold back delegating things to their staff and direct reports because they don't trust their systems will remind them of things they have handed off.
If you are the one delegating, track what you hand off on a "Waiting For" list. I include the person's name, what I'm waiting for and the date I started waiting. I am currently waiting for our IT guy Eric to fix my wireless card which broke yesterday. Here's what that looks like on my Waiting For list:
Eric - fix my wireless card - 8/9
Even though I trust Eric implicitly to get things done, I want my list to track this item, not my mind. I also don't have a due date on their because there really isn't a due date--it just needs to be done as soon as it can be done. This Friday during my weekly review, I'll scan down the Waiting For list. If that item is still unresolved, it may generate a call or email to Eric asking what's up if I haven't heard anything by then. Or, I may see that 8/9 date which tells me that I really haven't been waiting that long and I can wait a few more days. Either way, I can move on to whatever else I need to be handling and trust that Eric is on top of it.
Posted by Kelly at 02:03 PM | Comments (6)
August 01, 2005
Choosing your Tool
I often get asked what system or tool works best with Getting Things Done. I think any tool can work, with GTD as the overlay, as long as you like and trust it. I've used a Palm for about 8 years now and like its compactness, portability and reliability. For many years before that I used a paper planner and think paper systems can be fantastic for providing a visual overview that the Palm often lacks. But it was tedious to update my lists in a paper planner and I found myself spending lots of time rewriting.
I think the key is that you are attracted to whatever you choose as a tool, enough that you are motivated to review it regularly. It can become your greatest asset for having mind like water, so make it something that's easy to use, quick to update and trustworthy enough to allow your mind to let it go.
Posted by Kelly at 12:26 PM | Comments (2)
