This month focuses on a key practice of mastering your workflow: Collection. While it might seem like collect happens whether you like it or not (your email inbox is filling with messages while you read this...,) there are plenty of times you get input where you least expect it. Ever have an experience where you were out socially with friends, but had a fantastic work idea? What did you do with that idea? Collection happens where your life happens. Do you have the tools to be ready for it?
All the best,
DAVID'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Tools of our trade...
I've had a BFO lately. (That stands for "Blinding Flash of the Obvious!") It goes like this: All of the intelligence, good ideas, control, overview, and critical details that we need to have are probably within easy reach, as long as we can focus on an outcome, situation, project or topic long enough to let them show up. And it is highly unlikely we will be able to focus long enough on any one thing to mine the creative mental gold about it without a physical tool of some sort to anchor our attention.
Pencil and pad of paper. Computer keyboard and screen. Whiteboard (with working markers, please.) Calendars. Planners. Handhelds.
This comes to my attention primarily in working with people to get them to think about what they have around them that they are thinking about but which they still really need to think about... so they can finish the exercise.
If you look at your calendar in detail over the next two weeks, I bet you would think of at least one, if not several, "Oh that reminds me, I need to's." If you take a pen and blank paper, and just spend the next five minutes capturing ideas on the most important project right now for you to make some progress on, you will likely come up with at least one, if not several, "Oh yeah, I could's."
This seems self-evident, but what I've also noticed is how few people actually have the habits installed to use those tools as often as they could to stay on top of their world.
It is a residue from the industrial and agricultural world, I think, when the things to be done were much more physically self-evident. The "piles" in most offices nowadays seem just meager attempts to reproduce the self-evidence of the crops, the machinery, the things to be made and moved of bygone times. But self-evidence is not forthcoming without more discrete focus and more self-directed thinking.
Knowledge work demands new habits. And the knowledge work tools need to be used. They can really help. Sometimes function follows form.
"Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece."
-Nadia Boulanger
DAVID'S COACHING TIPS
A GTD® fan asked: Is paper or digital better for collecting?
DA: Anything works, as long as you process what you collect sooner rather than later. Just the fact that it's written down doesn't mean it won't crawl back up into your head if you don't process and organize it. Remember, emptying the collection tools does not mean that you have to finish what is in voice mail, email or an in-basket; it just means that you have to take it out of the container, decide what it is, and decide what has to be done with it. If it is still unfinished, organize it into your system. Just don't put it back into "In!"
PUBLIC EVENTS
Make this your year for mastering GTD. Whether you are new to GTD or looking to fine-tune what you have already implemented, our Mastering Workflow classes are a great way to master the fundamentals of GTD. Coming soon to Chicago, San Francisco, London, and Washington, DC.
GTD CONNECT® ONLINE LEARNING CENTER
Take a Webinar class on GTD Connect. Only $48 a month for unlimited access to hundreds of expert GTD podcasts, articles, videos and learning tools you won't find anywhere else.
GTD INTERACTIVE COURSE
Learn how to streamline your collection in our eLearning course. Currently available for groups only. We'll announce the option for individuals to take the course in this newsletter.
GTD TIMES BLOG
Read how a GTD'er in our community uses Microsoft® Office OneNote® to collect & manage project details.
WHAT IS GTD?
GTD® is the popular shorthand for "Getting Things Done®", the groundbreaking work-life management system and book by David Allen that transforms personal overwhelm and overload into an integrated system of stress-free productivity. Read more...
GTD®, Getting Things Done®, and GTD Connect® are registered trademarks of the David Allen Company. Microsoft® and OneNote® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
