Learning

BOOK: GETTING THINGS DONE

CHAPTER 1: A NEW PRACTICE FOR A NEW REALITY

  • Never keep more than 1 or 2 things on your mind; record any TODOs immediately in a “system”
  • 5” x 8” yellow ruled pads are the best collection tools (as heard on David Allen’s own podcast series)
  • Write just 1 item per page and throw it in your designated inbox (in David Allen’s own words: “don’t feel sorry for the tree – the tree will actually thank you because you “wasted” it for the best possible purpose)
  • Make the item as clear, granular, and actionable as possible (e.g. “call wife by 5pm)


BOOK: DEVELOPING THE LEADER WITHIN YOU

CHAPTER 7: PEOPLE

  • Always provide feedback in private, no matter how critical the feedback is.
  • Set clear, concise and documented expectations and don’t repeat your feedback
  • For managers & (staff) meeting organizers: Attend other leaders’ meetings to learn tips on efficiently managing the agenda & participants
  • Try to focus on each of your team members’ strengths and find/assign them work in those appropriate strong areas.
  • Do not try to “add value” to other peoples’ ideas; it may improve the quality/efficiency by 5% but that is sure to take away >50% of the person’s commitment to execution.
  • [In meetings] Before talking, ask yourself: Is this comment going to make our team more effective – or is it just intended to prove that I am more clever than my peers? If it is about your ego, then simply do not say anything.