Ep. 302: Individual and Organizational Productivity

34 snips

Mar 19, 2025

Guest

Brian J. Robertson

Guest

David Allen

David Allen, the creator of GTD, teams up with Brian Robertson, the mind behind Holacracy, to dive into the dynamic between personal and organizational productivity. They explore how GTD can enhance self-organization within teams and the challenges of merging personal productivity with collective frameworks. The conversation highlights the transformative power of Holacracy in clarifying roles and governance, showcasing its potential to revolutionize workplace structures. Tune in to discover how these methodologies can drive both individual focus and organizational success!

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ANECDOTE

David Allen's Holacracy Journey

David Allen recounts his experience running his company and seeking a self-organizing model.
He discovered Holacracy, implemented it, and continues to use it successfully.

INSIGHT

Individual GTD vs. Organizational Mess

Even with individual GTD proficiency, organizational messes can still arise.
Brian Robertson, a GTD practitioner, questioned why individual GTD success doesn't translate directly to organizational success.

ANECDOTE

Junior Employee's Request

Brian Robertson shares an example of a junior employee requesting documentation from the company founder using Holacracy's governance process.
This demonstrates the low-friction nature of Holacracy, enabling quick and easy changes across roles and hierarchy.

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Back in 2015, David Allen and Brian Robertson had a discussion about GTD and Holacracy. In this new talk, they catch up about the current state of the intersection between individual and organizational productivity. You'll hear some interesting similarities between the two models, as well as some parallels in their history and purpose.

You can listen to this entire conversation from March 2018 at GTD Connect®.

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