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Using the Getting Things Done methodology in the LeaderTask organizer

by: almeza777
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GTD is an action management strategy and also a system of methods and techniques the purpose of which is to help a modern person complete more and get tired less. The GTD abbreviation stands for Getting Things Done which is the name of a book by an American business trainer David Allen.

The main principles of GTD with examples of how it can be done in LeaderTask:

1) Organizing information. All incoming information must be stored in one place. This way it is easier to view it and find what you need. And all information should be divided into actions, i.e. what you should do (tasks in LeaderTask), and reference information (notes in LeaderTask).

2) Grouping tasks by context. It is better to perform tasks that have the same context (place, person, event, ...) together (several at a time) even if they belong to different projects.

Examples:
context Bank: it is better to do all tasks related to the bank at once instead of doing only part of them belonging to some project/task.

context John Smith: when you see this person, it is better to solve all problems related to him at once instead of one task or just ignore altogether.

The only question is how to remember what should be done at the right time in the right place? LeaderTask is specifically designed to give answers to these question with one click. Examples: when you go the bank, you print a todo list with tasks filtered by the following criteria: "Bank: all tasks". When you accidentally see John Smith in a bus, you look at the todo list and see all tasks realted to him (besides, tasks will most probably be from different projects).

In other words, grouping tasks by context = doing relevant things right here right now.

* context is more often called kairos in terms of time mamagement.

3) Criteria for selecting tasks to do

1. By context (what is to be done in this place? with this person? in case of this event?)
2. By time (what is to be done at this time? and do I have time to do it?)
3. By effort (do I have energy to complete this task?)
4. By priorities (what is the most important thing to do?)

All criteria except for # 3 (since the computer cannot decide how you feel) are present in LeaderTask:

Context and time are implemented in "Categories", "Contacts", "Time periods (dates)", "Projects";

Priorities are implemented as priorities and the user can define his own set of priorities and group tasks using this set.

4) Natural planning model.

The model of planning a project proposed by David Allen:

1. Defining the purpose ("why") and principles of work.
2. Envisioning the desired outcome
3. Brainstorming the way how to achieve this outcome
4. Organizing work
5. Identifying next actions

Projects are represented as a separate section in LeaderTask. Project properties include its goals, the responsible person, its time frame, the "project completed" mark. All actions (tasks) by the project are kept within its context, i.e. displayed when it is active.

5) Weekly review.

The number of tasks is constantly increasing, ideas, thoughts, solutions keep coming to us all the time. There are useful and not very useful ones among them. For you not to get lost in heaps of your own plans, David Allen recommends that you do a review at least once a week - "Weekly review". This review will help you get rid of irrelevant tasks, make your goals clearer, evaluate how close you are to your goals, etc.

The main priority in LeaderTask is making it comfortable to view tasks. It is achieved with the help of "Filters", i.e. predefined sets of criteria tasks will be filtered by.

Sample filters:

"My today tasks", "Bank tasks","IMPORTANT", "URGENT", "Monthly sales", "Project XYZ in September", "Delegated tasks", "Topics for meeting on project N", "Overdue tasks", "Yearly goals", "Calls", "Yearly goals review" ...

Thus, LeaderTask is very conveneint if you use David Allen's methodology - Getting Things Done!

Use LeaderTask - complete more, get tired less!!!

Download LeaderTask - http://www.LeaderTask.com/download/leader.exe

LeaderTask homepage - http://www.LeaderTask.com/

LeaderTask support forum

About the Author

Ivan Abramovsky is cofounder of Unattended Installation Systems. The company's flagship product MultiSet has become a "must-have-software" in homes and offices in more than 60 countries. http://www.almeza.com

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