Getting Things Done Reading Notes - GTD Horizontal Management System

These stages together form the horizontal management system in our lives, and we can add new items that need consideration at any time #flashcard (1) Capture things and information that draw our attention; (2) Clarify the meaning of each project and related measures; (3) Organize results and present options; (4) Reflect and review; (5) Engage and take action.

Problems encountered in life and work, as well as continuously occurring new things and changes, will all go through these 5 independent stages?

• Capture
• Clarify
• Organize
• Reflect
• Engage

Most people have ==many gaps in the capture stage==. Most of their action commitments are just thoughts. People's brains record various things, including must-dos, should-dos, and want-to-dos, in quantities far exceeding what they record anywhere else. Many people have collected a lot of information but ==failed to truly clarify its meaning== and haven't decided what targeted action to take (if necessary). Random lists found everywhere, meeting notes, and vague project lists stuck on the refrigerator, displayed on computer screens, or under the "tasks" function of digital devices - these to-do items on lists haven't been acted upon and can make people numb. The stress these lists create often exceeds the stress they can relieve. Others, though making timely and appropriate decisions, lose the expected value of their decisions due to ==ineffective organization of related results==. They determine they should tell their boss something, but this decision only stays deep in their brain and cannot be reliably deployed in appropriate circumstances. Still others have good management systems but ==fail to continuously review related content== to make them work. They may have various effective lists, plans, and memos (generated through capture, clarify, and organize) but don't update them in time or make full use of them. Many people ==don't consistently follow up on major matters== they need to handle, don't update to-do items and deadlines in time, and inevitably become victims of last-minute anxiety.

How can one truly ==get things done==? You need to have real control over all 5 stages. I'm currently doing well in the capture and clarify stages, but not enough in the following 3 aspects:

• Haven't been able to organize results well
• Haven't been able to continuously review related content
• Tracking of events is also poor

"Getting Things Done" is not just about getting things done; it involves appropriately handling your work and life. Chapter 2 Control Your Life: 5 Steps for Horizontal Workflow Management The core method for easily controlling knowledge work is mastering the 5 stages of workflow management, which are also a summary and embodiment of our experience. Whatever the situation, we will go through these 5 independent stages when handling problems encountered in life and work and continuously occurring new things and changes. Whether personal or work matters, to keep things under control, you need to go through these stages. These different stages each have their optimal methods and management tools. They must function as a whole for you to perform at your best in complex work environments and improve work efficiency. These management methods are not limited to "organization" or "prioritization" - these methods are certainly good, but they're only the results of applying these 5 stages, not the stages themselves. The stages I'm about to describe should serve as (1) Capture things and information that draw our attention; (2) Clarify the meaning of each project and related measures; (3) Organize results and present options; (4) Reflect and review; (5) Engage and take action.

These stages together form the horizontal management system in our lives, and we can add new items that need consideration at any time.

As shown in the workflow diagram, the decision about the next action is the most core link. For every unresolved issue, the next action should be executable, clear, and unambiguous concrete action. You need to periodically conduct a comprehensive review of your overall life and work situation and perform detailed checks on specific actions you plan to take. For most people, the magic of workflow management methods is precisely demonstrated in the process of continuously reviewing the past. That is to say, you need to review incomplete work and unresolved issues at least once a week, which is very important.