GTD Dictionary: Productivity

March 21st 2007

GTD Dictionary

4 comments

Productivity:

Having the power of producing; generative; creative.
Producing readily or abundantly; fertile: a productive vineyard.

Productivity is what GTD is all about, creating the necessary tools and attitudes to increase your productivity so as to create and achieve more without a discernible increase in the stress and pressure that would otherwise be associated with such actions. It involves knowing why you are doing a project, seeing where you need to go next with it by having next actions, and having the final result in mind at all times. Having this sort of information off your mind and in a system you can trust allows you to move your work forward efficiently without procrastination or lack of focus being an issue.

David Allen uses the term black belt in regard to GTD, which suggests a degree of competence and confidence in abilities to deal with situations. In martial arts for instance, this situation could involve competently neutralizing or defending yourself against an attack. With productivity, it could be the confidence in oneself to come to terms with a new project quickly (putting it into your GTD system and working out next actions) by being calm and in control of the situation.