Does it seem like you never have enough time to do everything you need — and want — to do?
Then you might want to give the GTD method a try. Developed by David Allen, this organizational method is explained thoroughly in his book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.
Basically, the GTD method is a great strategy to take control of your time and your life. The book teaches time and task management, along with methods for getting, and staying, productive. The main goal of the book is to teach you the vital skills you need to spend less time on the tasks you have to do, allowing you to focus on the things you want to do.
David Allen teaches everything you need to know to get things done sans the stress typically brought on by ultra-productivity. From individuals looking to use their time more efficiently, to businesses looking to improve their productivity, everyone has something to learn from this book.
Below, see our quick overview.
Why the GTD Method is Great for Businesses
Nowadays, more and more businesses are integrating reading business-related materials into the action items of salaried employees. The topic of simply being more productive is on the forefront, and we believe that Getting Things Done is one of the best resources around. Above all, if followed correctly, the GTD method can not only make employees more productive during the workday, but can also help employees create more time for the things they love outside of the office.
The GTD method is broken into five steps:
1. Capture
The GTD method puts an emphasis on capturing every task as soon as it comes into fruition. This allows you to keep your mind clear and focus on accomplishing everything you have to do, rather than simply trying to remember it all.
2. Clarify
Decide whether each task is actionable; if so, what is the first “action item” that can be taken to accomplish it? Delegate when possible. Ideally, you should only be working on tasks that fit your expertise.
3. Organize
Prioritize your tasks. This may require breaking tasks down into separate lists, and prioritizing from there. You can do this based on any number of criteria, including how important you deem the task, upcoming due dates, or how long the task will take you.
4. Reflect
Review your lists frequently to make sure the action items on them still align with your current goals.
5. Engage
Get to work!
The bottom line is that GTD provides ways for setting up a system for determining what to work on next, which will lead to being more productive.
Why You Should Integrate GTD at Work
Let’s say you run a team of 10 employees at work, and one of your regular tasks is overseeing all of their tasks. You have to make sure everyone accomplishes their tasks, but you also have a huge task list to tackle yourself. By teaching the GTD method to your team or employees, you can have confidence that each individual will approach their work in an effective manner, allowing you to focus on your own responsibilities.
Priority Matrix Integration: Taking it One Step Further
Priority Matrix is a task-management app that provides you with prioritization and collaboration abilities. The app not only includes features that supplement each step of the GTD method, such as one-click delegation ability and the ability to create multiple projects to keep your action items appropriately organized.
By using an app that utilizes the GTD method, you can:
- Categorize your tasks into projects, and prioritize the tasks within each one.
- Keep track of exactly who is working on what with filters that allow you to sort by team member.
- Delegate tasks at the click of a button
- Sync task due dates with your calendar
Try integrating your newfound GTD knowledge with Priority Matrix.
How many more tasks will you accomplish in the week? How many hours will you cut out of your workday?