Why do some resent GTD?

[m2foster]

How do you deal with people who resent your productivity and organization? I've made no secret of the system I use and have shown it to several people and encouraged them to use it. I show both an electronic and a paper system, depending on whether or not they're a "paper" or a "digital" person. A manager even shadowed me for three days. I never expected to be told that my system needed to change because "not everyone likes lists or has time to write everything down." I'm still trying to wrap my brain around that one. Any suggestions? I'm not about to dump my system.

[TesTeq]

I've made no secret of the system I use and have shown it to several people and encouraged them to use it. I show both an electronic and a paper system, depending on whether or not they're a "paper" or a "digital" person.

I think you cannot force anybody to use GTD and I am afraid that you are trying too hard to "encourage" your coworkers. Just show them your extraordinary results.

[bishblaize]

It wont be the system per se - be mindful of how youre saying things, GTD does breed a form of evangelism. If you're saying "check out this great way of doing things" its easy to forget that an implication can be drawn, i.e. that the other person is doing something wrong or is somehow deficient. Someone with high self-esteem wouldnt think this way, but someone with lower self-esteem might feel threatened.

Also, the advantages of GTD arent self-evident. Its only as you work the system you see the huge advantages & understand the subtleties. Your boss or coworkers may be thinking "other people round here do good work without spending two hours a week writing up lists of things to do". Dont forget that you can still do a good job without GTD - GTD is just a way of maximising productivity, minimising stress and being strategic about it.

Best thing, if people dont go for it, then just let your results do the talking and when they want to know how, let them have it.

[CJSullivan]

Yes, just chiming in on the general consensus here... Wondering whether they really resent your organization, or whether they resent your "advice." Most people will only hear any message when they're ready to hear it. So the best thing anyone can do is to model being really organized, and pretty soon the people will be coming to you and ASKING what you're doing that is obviously getting you such great results! In short, you let them come to you - like "The GTD Whisperer"!!

[Gardener]

I agree with the other responses, plus, some people distrust organization. They think that it's incompatible with creativity and inspiration and sometimes even incompatible with empathy and being a good person.

One book that has some interesting discussion of this is _It's Hard To Make A Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys_. It's written for people that distrust organization, and it's more about organizing your stuff than your time, but, well, it's interesting.

Gardener

[m2foster]

Thank you for all the responses.

Allow me to clarify a few details. I wasn't "forcing" anyone to do anything, or even "advising". I showed my system to a few who asked. I saw some adapt a few components and left it at that. I also know that it's possible to be productive without it. I've never said otherwise. I started using GTD only last summer after the volume I was handling became overwhelming. After I set up my initial system I never had to spend hours on a list. I know that GTD isn't for everyone, but they came to me. I don't know exactly what prompted management to send someone to shadow me, but that wasn't my idea either.

I guess a better question for the post would have been, "How do you handle someone who can't find anything wrong with what you do or how you do it, but would rather have mediocrity than a system that she doesn't understand or like?" While I would expect to be asked to change something because it didn't work, I couldn't believe that I was being asked to change something because it worked too well. I never told anyone to start using my system. I have no power to make anyone change anything or do anything.

So a few follow up questions would be, "Would you change it? Could you go back just to get along and be like everyone else?" I like the idea of letting the results speak for themselves, but was wondering if anyone had experienced a situation where great results didn't necessarily translate into something positive.

[Linada]

I am not sure I am understanding correctly.
Management sent someone to shadow how you do things and then told you to change your system?

If not ignore everything i say, but
If yes, I would feel very odd too.
Have they given any reason? Are you plugging less information into some company tracking system? Have they given any indication what you should do instead?

Of course the system could simply be too good. If everyone else is stressed out and drops their open loops they won't like seeing someone who doesn't have their problem. A kind of 'let's suffer together'.
It would be better if they would join in and be productive together instead, but often people simply don't want to change the status quo.

[rideon]

"How do you handle someone who can't find anything wrong with what you do or how you do it, but would rather have mediocrity than a system that she doesn't understand or like?"

Well - you don't. You don't handle people, you handle situations. I would handle the situation by just being grateful that I found GTD and know how to stay in control and how to get back there when I do get off track. I would then think of all the things I have to worry about and realize someone else’s issue doesn't even make the list. You found GTD when you were ready for it. Trust that will work for them also.

[Jamie Elis]

People misunderstand:

the GTD overhead--which is significant at first, depending on your starting point.

Outcome statements in general and
--if you pressure them to make them too soon, pr concur with you before they have thought it through, they end up resentfu.l
-- at the same time, many people do see the point or fail to remember to revisit the statement of desired outcome.


Some people resent being directly held accountable even although they are ethical and responsible and do deliver--they just need a softer touch and cues that are supportive such as "how far along are you with....", "is there something you want me to take a look at at this point", "we are approaching the 2/28 deadline, do you still think that is realistic".

An incompletely implemented "system" while it may be elevating your productivity can look foolish and neurotic to a person who does not understand what you are doing and that there are stages of change.

Most people are conservative about their tools and methods.

People that change tools and methods readily are often a subtype that is interested in tools and methods to begin with, in an environment in which there are other people whom they admire in various stages, have a coach or are in a crisis or responded to excellent marketing.

People who have been through a cycle of productivity trainings with high hopes followed by disappointments in themselves or the system become allergic to yet another proselytizer.

Maybe someone thinks you are stealing company secrets and/or going to leave and start a competing business.

Some people are not aware of their toxic jealousy and therefore cannot convert it to admiration and respect.

Sometimes people get a negative reaction from a higher up or a colleague for reasons that have little to do with the ostensible and outwardly discussed reason. A relative of mine was forced to go out on permanent physical disability (for a legitate problem that could have been worked around with reduced hours)and all her friends rallied around her as if she was the victim but I think the real reason is she not a collaborator, she responds to people at a concrete level, gabbles and speaks so quickly that people don't understand her, and she is crushed by any feedback, does not initiate to help others unless they are in a crisis, doesn't give people a heads up or reminders about her schedule and is rude about asserting her needs, and never, ever apologizes. I am not suggesting that you are at all like this, but it pays to look at how you might be perceived or misperceived. Although it is a tough economy worldwide, if in addition to your regular job skills you are an ace at self-management and productivity maybe you need a job where that is valued. Maybe a little moon lighting or a second job might help you slide into an environment in which you are able to use your talents and get respect for it.

[Roger]

How do you deal with people who resent your productivity and organization?

What's your ideal outcome for the situation?


Cheers,
Roger

[Gardener]

So a few follow up questions would be, "Would you change it? Could you go back just to get along and be like everyone else?" I like the idea of letting the results speak for themselves, but was wondering if anyone had experienced a situation where great results didn't necessarily translate into something positive.

I'm still having trouble picturing the situation. Nobody that I work with even knows that I use GTD - it doesn't affect them in any way. So even if it's clear that your coworkers don't want to hear about the system, can't you just keep using it quietly? What aspect of the system is apparent to your coworkers and management, to the extent that they want you to stop?

Gardener

[m2foster]

If everyone else is stressed out and drops their open loops they won't like seeing someone who doesn't have their problem. A kind of 'let's suffer together'.
It would be better if they would join in and be productive together instead, but often people simply don't want to change the status quo.

As I'm getting bits of additional information, I'm beginning to think that this is the case too. Thank you for your input.

[m2foster]

What aspect of the system is apparent to your coworkers and management, to the extent that they want you to stop?

Gardener

The only aspect that's apparent is the volume I handle and my almost non-existent error rate. Apparently (now that I've gotten some more information) she was sent to shadow me so she could learn. I found out yesterday that she's leaving. No one else has told me to change anything. I can't help but feel relieved.

[Barb]

The only aspect that's apparent is the volume I handle and my almost non-existent error rate. Apparently (now that I've gotten some more information) she was sent to shadow me so she could learn. I found out yesterday that she's leaving. No one else has told me to change anything. I can't help but feel relieved.

Maybe she wasn't doing well in her OWN job, productivity-wise, and was sent to shadow you for that very reason. And because she feared she would be fired, she started looking for another job...and found it.

Strange story, I'll give you that!

[kelstarrising]

One possible reason--some part of them thinks they should be doing what you are doing.

[m2foster]

Strange story, I'll give you that!

No kidding.

[m2foster]

One possible reason--some part of them thinks they should be doing what you are doing.

Guess so. Never understood people like that.

[sdann]

What I've encountered is that people don't understand the benefit of having it all on the table, so to speak. To them writing down that you have to clean the garage, do your taxes, get ready for the meeting in 3 weeks, is a waste of time. It's in their mind after all. They don't see that it actually frees your mind and really lets you plan and plot.

Therefore, to them "list making" is time that could be spent doing something else. They also haven't faced actual consequences of not having a complete picture of a project or even of their job, or, if they have, they consider it an isolated incident.

[mmurray]

There is a nice description in this blog post

http://doyoudaveramsey.com/david-allen-genius/comment-page-1/#comment-1660

from a DA tweet of one thing all the planning time does for you. It saves the lying awake at night in panic running through all the things you have to do!

Michael

[PatinSC]

I've worked with a lot of people who are threatened by any innovation. They got to their position one way, and seem to figure that anyone who is trying to improve is a personal threat.

Now, I have at least one coworker who firmly believes that writing down a list is a waste of time, because he can remember everything. Of course he doesn't, and frequently has to ask me, but that doesn't budge him from his firm belief in his own memory skills.

[NewbGTD]

Had the same experiences as above when you show people GTD they think they don't need lists and can remember everything but they simply don't. And the ones that manage to remember most things are completely stessed out, but still don't want a solution.

I keep it to myself now.

[jengagne]

Maybe she wasn't doing well in her OWN job, productivity-wise, and was sent to shadow you for that very reason.
That would make sense -- and it wouldn't surprise me if she were approaching it from an automatically defensive standpoint, resulting in her reaching to critique and make strange demands that you change instead.

[annewalsh]

Been reading through this post and seems to me you have been getting some really good advice. Roger had a great question about what would be an ideal outcome...and maybe that is a question to ask.
Sounds as though the person sent to shadow you resented you being presented as a "role model" (sort of a "look at how X does it").
And I was listening to one of David's interviews (think it was one of the upclose series) in which he mentioned how people have a comfort zone around a certain level of stress and when GTD helps to eliminate that...it feels unfamiliar...so they go back to their stress levels ...because it's familiar! Maybe for some people being stress free feels boring. Thomas Leonard once said that "boredom is the gateway to peace"..
Would love to hear how the situation resolves itself...but I suspect that if you keep showing grace under pressure (as it seems you are doing) you will have people coming to you (maybe at night time when no one will know... ;) and asking you how you do it..
Anne

[m2foster]

I keep it to myself now.
I totally understand. I wish it wasn't so.

[m2foster]

Sounds as though the person sent to shadow you resented you being presented as a "role model"
That's probably why her response was a personal attack. Still trying to figure out how come these kind of people (disorganized, petty, emotional) end up having power over me. Thanks for your words of encouragement.

[m2foster]

Now, I have at least one coworker who firmly believes that writing down a list is a waste of time, because he can remember everything. Of course he doesn't, and frequently has to ask me, but that doesn't budge him from his firm belief in his own memory skills.
So, do you ever let him bear the consequences of his system, i.e. don't have the answer, or tell him it's not your job to remember his stuff for him? In my own situation, it feels like I can't win. If I'm not there to make sure it gets done and prop up someone else's delusions that their system works, then I'm not being a team player. If I'm always there and ready, then they resent me (not enough to change mind you). I have a situation right now where I gave up ownership of an item that wasn't really mine. I gave it back to my boss. It's been a disaster. Sitting back and letting things crash and burn has been one of the hardest things I've had to do.

[PatinSC]

... If I'm not there to make sure it gets done and prop up someone else's delusions that their system works, then I'm not being a team player. If I'm always there and ready, then they resent me (not enough to change mind you)...

Exactly my situation! I have spent many hours, and more than a few nights cleaning up for someone else's failures. And I still get reviews saying I should be more of a 'team player'.


Pat in SC