anyone use GTD project list to keep boss/client up to speed on your activities?

[jennytg3]

Just curious if some people share their GTD project list with their boss or client to keep them updated on their activities. I keep my home list and work list separate so that's not a problem, but every once in a while I have 'lagging' projects I'd rather not list until I make more progress on them. (not very GTD but it's a fact right now). I kind of hate to recreate an entirely new status sheet for the boss and am interested to hear how others have handled this issue. Thank you!

[mcogilvie]

I think how you handle reports depends on how often you have to do them. This is the time of year I have to do annual reports for both my dean and my funding agency. There's some overlap between the two, but it's quite a bit of work to pull all of the information together. Most of the information I need has to do with the past, and I keep it as reference material. I do refer to my current projects list for both reports, but not for details; it's more of a prospectus.

I have colleagues whose funding agency requires monthly reports, which is crazy for research: "Postdoc found grad student had performed incorrect calibration of instruments; six months of data now being corrected. Shipment of crucial samples lost by shippers. In despair." Next month:"Results improved after correction of data. Grad student finds all lost samples under postdoc's desk. Deliriously happy."

[cfoley]

This is one reason that I think a GTD system should be private. If you start sharing it then you will resist putting sensitive things on it. As an extreme example, you would never want to share the "Fix that expensive mistake I made before anyone notices" project, even if you rename it to something less obviously damning.

As much as you wouldn't want anyone finding out about a mistake, that project and associated actions must be on your lists.

Then you also have to be comfortable adding seemingly trivial projects to your list. "Tidy desk", "Clear out middle drawer". This stuff might be important to the owner of those projects but nobody else wants to know.

[mcogilvie]

This is one reason that I think a GTD system should be private. If you start sharing it then you will resist putting sensitive things on it.

Another good example is health-care information. However, you can always cut and paste the information you do want to share from an electronic system into a separate document.

[cfoley]

Careful with cut and paste! It's all too easy to copy a block of text and not notice the critical line in the middle that you want to miss out.

[CJSullivan]

One way is just to review your project list, and then jot down the key projects you'd like to update your Boss on - as an "agenda" list for that boss. If you have a regular check-in, you can literally take 2 minutes beforehand and jot down the projects. This would obviate the need for "inappropriate disclosure"!

I realize you don't want a separate "status sheet," but it really could be just a back of the envelope thing, don't you think? Just a few notes to give the highlights - it wouldn't have to be a really formal report. And if you were to proactively seek out your boss and offer to give them such an update, I would think Brownie points would be in order...!

[rightbrain]

why feed your boss information designed and organized for yourself to use.....

as an analogy...

gtd is like an airport control tower...landing planes( projects) without crashing them.
your boss is a passenger on one of the planes, and all he cares is to land safely.

my gtd system has evolved so much in the last few months...its a pity if i have to stick to expectations set by anyone besides myself ....

a gtd system is a personal tool and will evolve as such..

i use a paper based stystem..and freemind ...a mind mapping java program a very basic software..........why do i not use one of those hundereds of available sophisticated softwares...because my gtd system will be only as good as the software ...and not beyond that.

hope this helps

[enyonam]

I don't electronically hare my lists with bosses, colleagues or reports, but I certainly do take a screen short and print or email it every once in a while. It's a quick way to let folks know what you're committed to ... and what you expect they are committed to that you're dependent on.

I, of course don't share what I'm not comfortable sharing.

[TesTeq]

My GTD system is like underwear. I do not share the status of my underwear with my coworkers - they see my clean and tidy polo shirt, trousers and shoes.

[mcogilvie]

My GTD system is like underwear. I do not share the status of my underwear with my coworkers - they see my clean and tidy polo shirt, trousers and shoes.

ROTFLOL! And I agree completely.