The 5 steps of GTD workflow are Seize, Make clear, Set up, Replicate, and Have interaction. When it’s time to Have interaction, folks usually ask how to select from what could also be lengthy lists of duties to do. That’s when it’s useful to make use of the standards for selecting:
Context – What place, device, or particular person will the motion require? That is the primary limitation for selecting–it must be. In case you’re not in the proper place, don’t have the proper device, or entry to the required particular person, you may’t take the motion.
Time obtainable – How a lot time do it’s a must to take the motion? You probably have 20 minutes, solely contemplate actions that you simply assume will take lower than 20 minutes.
Sources – What’s your power wish to take the motion? Have you ever been in back-to-back conferences all day and also you’re drained? Or are you simply ending your morning espresso and feeling alert and enthusiastic? You’re most likely already contemplating this greater than you notice if you select what to do.
Priorities – What’s crucial one to decide on based mostly in your roles, targets, long-term technique, and goal?
How are you aware what your priorities are? That is the place GTD’s Horizons of Focus® mannequin is available in. GTD defines “work” from six completely different horizons, akin to completely different altitudes of perspective.
HORIZON 5: Function and Ideas
HORIZON 4: Imaginative and prescient
HORIZON 3: Targets and Aims
HORIZON 2: Areas of Focus and Accountability
HORIZON 1: Initiatives
GROUND: Calendar/Actions
Your priorities are decided from the highest down—i.e. your goal and values will drive your imaginative and prescient of the aim being fulfilled, which can create targets and targets, which can body areas of focus and accountability. All of these will generate tasks which would require actions to get them executed. Each stage of that’s priceless, however the Areas of Focus stage specifically might be useful for setting priorities. Know what your job actually is and saying “no” will come a little simpler.
Lastly, have a look at the way you’re spending your time if you Have interaction. That is the place the Three-fold Nature of Work mannequin is available in. It’s a helpful approach to have a look at the way you spend your time:
Doing pre-defined work
Doing work because it seems – New issues that present up that you simply select to work on
Defining work – Processing new inputs (swing again to Seize, Make clear, and Set up)
Of these three, the place do you spend extra time than you assume you need to? And which one doesn’t get sufficient of your time?