A Brief Intro to the GTD Methodology

1. Getting Things Done
A Brief Intro to the GTD Methodology

2. Gene Babon
Tech Lab Instructor
Maverick Landing Community Services
Co-Organizer & Chief Percolator
Boston PHP Meetup
Managing Director
CDIA Alumni Association
Background
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3. Expectations
Project Management Camp is a user-led conference to help project managers:
● become more effective
● network and connect
● increase knowledge of project management best practices
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

6. Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

7. 1. Capture
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8. 2. Clarify
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9. 3. Organize
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10. 4. Reflect
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

11. 5. Engage
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

12. You can’t be successful
at getting things done if
you don’t know what all
the things are that you
want to get done.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

13. Stress typically occurs
from inappropriately
managed commitments
you make or accept.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

14. The GTD methodology
helps you clarify your
commitments by getting
them out of your head
and specifying what
"done" looks like.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

15. The secret sauce is ...
lists -- lots of them!
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

16. Create a list, identifying
the desired outcome and
specifying the next
action.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

17. If the desired outcome
requires multiple next
actions then you have a
project.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

18. Activity
On a piece of paper (or in an app)
capture as many things as you can
that are floating around in your
head that you want (or need) to get
done.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

19. Activity
Introduce yourself to someone near
you who you don’t know and share
several things on your list that have
your attention right now. Identify
the next action, if it is potentially a
project.
Then, exchange business cards or
contact information.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

20. Most people have
between 30 and 100
projects swimming
around in their head,
causing stress.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

21. Your List
● Work stuff vs. non-work stuff?
● Family stuff? (planning a vacation, cleaning the basement, etc.)
● Personal stuff? (losing weight, stopping smoking, etc.)
● Career stuff? (learning a technology, finding a new job, etc.)
● Financial stuff? (two-thirds of Americans losing sleep over finances)
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

22. Activity
Revisit your list individually.
If you have less than 30 things
(projects), add more stuff (family,
personal, career, financial, etc.) that
may not have come to mind, but
you now realize you should do
something about it.
Share with the group.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

23. Next Actions (Homework)
● Review your list and begin creating Project Lists (one project per page)
● List measurable outcome (SMART goals)
● List target date
● List next actions
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

24. Productivity
● You can’t possibly get this all done.
● Some or many of your projects will go onto a “Someday / Maybe” list
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

25. Challenges of GTD
● Plan on the initial “Capture” lasting two full days
● “Capture” your inbox > in-box zero
● Lists … Lists … Lists
● The Weekly Review
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

26. Expectations
Project Management Camp is a user-led conference to help project managers:
● become more effective
● network and connect
● increase knowledge of project management best practices
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

27. Become More Effective
The GTD methodology will help you become more effective:
● Capture
● Clarify
● Organize
● Reflect
● Engage
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

28. Network and Connect
The activity in this session helped you ...
● network
● connect
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

29. GTD Best Practices
These GTD best practices will help you become a more effective manager:
● The two-minute rule
● In-box zero
● Always ask “What is the next action?”
● Create lists of projects with next actions (amorphous blob of undoability)
● Create a time blocks to perform the five steps
● Review and update your lists WEEKLY
Project Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

30. Activity
Open discussion about GTD and
other methodologies and
techniques that you’ve experienced
and utilize.
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”

31. Closing Remarks
Next Action:
● Buy the book
Next Action:
● Connect on LinkedIn
Project Management CampProject Management Camp about.me/babon > “Watch my reel”