Getting Things Done
Strangely, considering every person on earth has at least some organising to do, we put very little emphasis on finding and using a consistent, method of keeping yourself together. Getting Things Done is an organisational methodology (like Solution Selling, but for keeping yourself organised!).
It’s based on two main principles :
1. Capturing everything that needs to be done - now, later, far in the future, big, small - and put it into a trusted system outside of your head and mind
2. Disciplining yourself to always make immediate decisions about everything that comes in, so that you have a plan for the "next action" that can be applied at any moment
Getting Things Done places great importance on collecting all “stuff” (tasks, incoming post, emails, etc) and put into a trusted system (i.e. one the you know will work and “stuff” will not get lost in). When stuff come in, do one of the following:
(if it doesn’t need to be done now)
- Trash it
- Incubate (something may need to be done about it in the future - put in your calendar at a specific date so that it doesn't get lost)
- Reference (useful info you might need in the future)
(if it requires action)
- Do it : If it takes less than 2 mins it should be done at the moment it is defined.
- Delegate it : If it takes longer than 2 mins, ask yourself "Am I the best person to be doing this?". If "No", delegate it (to the right entity - marketing, another person, group, company, etc)
- Defer it : If the action will take longer than 2 mins, you are the right person to do it you will have to defer it until later and track it on a "next actions" list
Group/list your tasks by “context/resource”, that is to say, one list for all phone calls, one list for everything to do specifically at home, one list for everything to do specifically in the London office, one list for everything to do in town, one list of everything to do at your computer, etc, etc.
If you have a task that you are waiting for someone else to perform, keep it in a list marked “Waiting for”
Do a weekly review of all your tasks to keep everything tidy
In a nutshell, that’s it. I would strongly recommend reading the book yourself. As a formerly chaotic sales person I can strongly recommend Getting Things Done.
