Book Review: Getting Things Done, the art of stress-free productivity by David Allen

A leading thinker on productivity, David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done, teaches his five steps to gain control of your life. Learn how to corral your “stuff,” get projects organized, and build new mental skills for stress-free productivity with simplicity, speed and fun. What is the underlying component that makes it all work? Being relaxed—a word that’s not typically associated with getting things done. Speaking of which, this book comes with a warning that “it can be hazardous to your old habits of procrastination.”

Why are we reading this book?

Considered one of the most influential business books, Allen demonstrates the importance of adaptability with a revised version to address new workplace perspectives, technology advances and other influences while remaining true to the fundamental principles and core techniques of his original bestseller. For Allen, it’s all about staying focused amidst constantly changing situations to overcome feeling confused and overwhelmed.

Backstory:

Recognizing early in life that nothing will give any of us more than 24 hours in a day, Allen saw the importance of being efficient and relaxed to achieve a consistent level of productivity. Instead of purporting formulas that tend to be one-size fits all situations, he was motivated to improve productivity with simple processes that can ride the ups and downs of today’s world where lives and jobs are often subject to change.

Challenge:

According to Allen, there are three major challenges to productivity—organizations are in morph mode, professionals are making more job and career changes, and the demands of cultures, lifestyles, and technologies require more attention to personal matters than ever before. Because today’s job descriptions and projects don’t have clearcut edges, a major dilemma is trying to organize incomplete lists of unclear things.

Solution:

Since productivity is not so much a lack of time as much as it is a lack of clarity and definition about the task or project, Allen asserts that getting things done requires two basic components: defining (1) what “done” means (outcome) and (2) what “doing” looks like (action). Instead of the typical practice of determining the big picture first and working down, Allen advocates that a far more effective method is to work from the bottom up and organize the daily demands first.

Summary:

Getting Things Done offers a core model for successful productivity that works regardless of the time demands and complexity of tasks. Throughout his book, Allen reiterates the importance of a relaxed focus and taking one step at a time rather than an all-or-nothing leap. While this may sound logical, in reality he has found this way of thinking can be the biggest roadblock. So, when you’re finished reading this book, your in basket and inbox await and Allen has a workable solution for sorting out both…plus so much more!