I’ve adapted and used the Getting Things Done productivity process for years, but sometimes it seems cumbersome. Recently, however, I discovered insights from a Microsoft employee who wrote the book, Getting Results the Agile Way. (I highly recommend it) It’s a simple process that helps improve personal productivity. I’ve summarized below the 4 simple decisions he suggests that can help boost our productivity. I’m beginning to apply them and they really work.
4 Simple Decisions to Boost Productivity
- Monday vision: every Monday look at your week and determine the top three things you hope to accomplish. Write them down.
- Daily Outcomes: every day determine the top three things you want to accomplish. Write them down.
- Rule of Three: as you might have guessed it, practice the rule of three. That is, keep your high priority daily and weekly task/project lists to three items.
- Friday Reflection: on Friday look at what you accomplished, what you learned, and what you hope to do differently the following week.
