Processing each new piece of information is a central GTD activity. Processing isn’t doing, it’s deciding what will happen next. Each decision may seem quite obvious to you, so much so that you don’t consciously make it. Bad mistake! Managing paper is a constant flow of small decisions.
Here’s one of David Allen’s coaches on the subject:
“Before GTD, when new information came across their desks, [clients] would usually say, “I’ll get to it later.” By applying the GTD Fundamental Process of asking two questions: “What is my desired outcome with this?” and “What is the next action?” many have come to realize a powerful thing about knowledge work: “To get to it does not necessarily mean to do it.” "
Rather, it means to think about what needs to be done, and then to park a reminder for this action in a trusted system where they will be notified of it when they need to be. Aaahhh, relief!”
Piles on your desk come in two flavors: the ones for which the next to-do has been identified and piles of who the heck knows what. You get to decide.
Piles on your desk come in two flavors: the ones for which the next to-do has been identified and piles of who the heck knows what. You get to decide.
Posted by: http://www.buraqsys.com/ | October 7, 2006 11:28 AM | Permalink to Comment