Is Obama getting things done?

Paul Smalera wrote a great piece over on Slate’s The Big Money speculating if Obama were using GTD. Worth a read. You’ll even see an “Obama-ized” GTD workflow diagram. By the way, you can get free copies (basic or advanced) of the GTD Workflow Diagram from the DAC store, and the new one with an instructional Coaching DVD with David Allen is coming soon.

Join the Conversation

3 Comments

  1. One of the most important elements to getting things done is eliminating inputs into the system. Initially you have to “clear the decks” so you can start to get a sense of those higher horizons from which you can realign things, but so much of actually getting things done consists of becoming an expert at saying “No” so you can focus on what is the most important. That’s a lesson every president — if they expect to be a good one, anyway — must learn in order to govern effectively.

  2. I also wondered if Obama did GTD, given his reported view that you should work on more than one initiative at a time. Paul Smalera’s article is ambivalent about GTD, implying that Obama’s “checklist” focus on getting things done rather than doing things right is a weakness of his leadership style. I realize that Smalera’s GTD analogy is tongue in cheek, but it also represents a flawed implementation and common interpretation of GTD that focuses on defining actions for everything and trying to get everything done, often leading back to loss of focus and overwhelm. Values, vision and goals, delegation and someday/maybe (to prevent overload) are all key elements in the GTD process, but ones that deserve more emphasis. A popular image of GTD still seems to be a mechanical and compulsive process of defining and cranking through lists of tasks.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.