Lawyerist Podcast #569: Your Head is a Crappy Office, and Other GTD Principles for Attorneys, with David Allen
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Jul 17, 2025 
David Allen, author of "Getting Things Done" and a renowned productivity coach, shares insights on managing chaos in the legal profession. He outlines the five key steps of the GTD framework, stressing that a clear mind is essential for leadership. Strategies for avoiding burnout and creating efficient team dynamics are also explored. Allen discusses how structured lists and regular assessments can enhance personal and team productivity, offering practical tools for lawyers to reclaim control over their workload and foster a healthier work environment.
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Clear Your Mind Methodically
- Capture everything that has your attention to clear your mind effectively.
- Clarify each item by deciding the next action or categorizing it as trash, reference, or incubate.
Use the Two-Minute Rule
- Apply the two-minute rule: if a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately.
- For longer tasks, delegate if possible or defer them properly by scheduling.
Teams Need GTD Too
- Personal productivity and team productivity follow the same GTD principles but differ in application.
- A team is an entity that must capture, clarify, organize, and reflect together to succeed.
