G E T T I N G T H I N G S D O N E

T h e A r t o f S t r e s s - F r e e P r o d u c t i v i t y

B o o k B y D a v i d A l l e n S l i d e s b y R y a n B a t t l e s

A L L E N , D AV I D . G E T T I N G T H I N G S D O N E : T H E A R T O F S T R E S S - F R E E P R O D U C T I V I T Y. N E W Y O R K : V I K I N G ,

2 0 0 1 .

With the societal shift to knowledge work, new behaviors and tools are required to

successfully manage workflow.

Too much "stuff" stored in a person’s short-term memory can blow a fuse

The conscious mind is a focusing tool, not a storage place.

One must write down the outcomes they wish to achieve

For every outcome, one must determine the "next physical action" required to move the

situation forward

This next physical action must be organized in a system one reviews regularly

There are five stages of mastering workflow: to collect, process, organize, review and do.

Collection tools include the physical in-basket, paper-based and electronic note-

taking devices, voice-recording devices and email.

Every open loop must be in your collection system and out of your head.

You must have as few collection buckets as you can get by with.

You must empty them regularly.

If an item is not actionable, trash it, put it into a tickler file, or a reference file.

If an item is actionable, what is the next action? If it takes less than 2 minutes, do it. If

more, delegate or defer it.

Project Planning Steps:

#1 - Define the purpose and principles

#2 - Envision the outcome

#3 - Brainstorm how to get from here to there

#4 - Organize sequences and priorities

#5 - Identify the next actions

To get started, take several hours or days to dump all of your projects and actions from

running around in your head, living on post-it notes, etc.

Get your inbox to empty by acting, delegating, or deferring.

Never put anything back into "in."

To keep the system working, it is key that one continues to trust the system.

Review the daily calendar and tickler folders.

Take time each week for a weekly review.

The Six-Level Model for Reviewing Your Own Work is presented in terms of altitude:

50,000 + feet: Life

40,000 feet: Three- to five-year visions

30,000 feet: One-to two-year goals

20,000 feet: Areas of responsibility

10,000 feet: Current projects

Runway: Current actions

One should use the mind to think about things, rather than of things.

Before the end of a meeting, one should ask, "So what’s the next action here?" to

increase clarity

Even the slightest increase in the use of natural planning can bring significant

improvement.

T H I S H A S B E E N A B R I E F O V E R V I E W O F T H E M A I N I D E A S O F G E T T I N G T H I N G S D O N E .

!

B U Y T H E B O O K F O R T H E F U L L E X P E R I E N C E !

A L L E N , D AV I D . G E T T I N G T H I N G S D O N E : T H E A R T O F S T R E S S - F R E E P R O D U C T I V I T Y.

N E W Y O R K : V I K I N G , 2 0 0 1 . ‘

A L L P R O D U C T A N D C O M PA N Y N A M E S A R E T R A D E M A R K S O R R E G I S T E R E D T R A D E M A R K S

O F T H E I R R E S P E C T I V E H O L D E R S . U S E O F T H E M D O E S N O T I M P LY A N Y A F F I L I AT I O N

W I T H O R E N D O R S E M E N T B Y T H E M .

D O W N L O A D T H E B U S I N E S S B O O K C O L L E C T I O N

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