Ep. 236: The Art of Balancing Predefined Work

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Dec 6, 2023

In this engaging conversation, Dave Edwards, a GTD practitioner known for his insightful discussions with David Allen, tackles the balance between predefined and spontaneous work. They delve into the evolution of email communication and its effects on productivity, sharing tips for managing overloaded inboxes. The duo also reflects on generational differences in organization methods, explores effective note-taking strategies like mind mapping, and examines the ongoing debate of paper versus digital tools in task management.

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ADVICE

Email Processing

Process emails like physical mail; empty your inbox regularly.
Don't let email volume overwhelm you; assess if it's truly relevant work.

ADVICE

Two-Minute Rule for Email

If an email requires more than two minutes, defer it.
Add it to your to-do list and process it later.

ADVICE

Team Email Protocols

Set clear communication protocols with your team regarding email response times.
This helps manage expectations and reduces urgency-driven responses.

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In another of their occasional chats, David Allen is interviewed by Dave Edwards. They explore the art of balancing predefined work that you may have told yourself is important for today, with work that shows up. They discuss the importance of having protocols and agreements for communication on your team, including expected response times. Then they consider the different types of notes you might take in meetings. That leads to a perennial question: How to get others to do GTD? David's answer is that happens when someone exemplifies outcome and action thinking.

You can listen to the entire conversation from March 2022 at GTD Connect®.

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