Comments on: The essential GTD skills for a CEO

By: Lynn O'Connor

Lynn O'Connor — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:54:31 +0000

A basic principle of David’s approach, as he described it here, is applicable to everything I do, but is little acknowledged. He mentions how, in his coaching work, he finds each person to be “different.” This has certainly been my conclusion as a clinician and professor. Every client I’ve ever seen over the years, and every student I’ve ever worked with, is unique. There have been no two alike. This makes our job as “teachers,” “mentors,” “coaches,” or “psychologists” challenging and particularly interesting. I wonder how much we are all doing the same thing, despite the official title of our role. I usually teach (clinicians) this as “case-specificity.” I think that is what David is talking about. So among CEOs, or among groups at any level of achievement, case-specificity is the name of the game.

By: GTD Times

GTD Times — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:04:40 +0000

Hey Jim–you know this is the David Allen Company blog, right? :)

By: Noemi PJ

Noemi PJ — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:43:05 +0000

The last 3 tips of David really struck me:

1. Having and maintaining a support group or peer group you can hang out with (I suppose for community participation/community building);

2. Set a time to think out of the box or in his words, “think at a different level”;

3. Succession or thinking how to pass on what you have learned to the next generation of leaders who will take your place.

I hope these basic CEO survival tips are taught in management schools because it keeps things simpler for the aspiring CEO.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 18 May 2010 05:31:11 +0000

Is it just me or does anyone else find it off-putting that David talks too fast, speaks in run-on sentences and uses so much jargon?

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:51:47 +0000

I’m not an executive, in fact I’m virtually unemployed. What strikes me about this video is that what David shared in this video applies even to someone like me. I’m at a crossroads at 54, and have a clearer idea of what I want out of my life. The GTD process has/is helping me sort what’s real in my life and what I wish to make real. The ability to sort it out (key word being “OUT”) and then think in deeper and higher levels about those things that require that kind of thinking, is only possible because I have all the other things that don’t require that kind of thinking out of my head. The decisions that have great impacts on our lives or organizations require us to have the space in our heads to think on those things on a different level. The GTD process, provides that space.

By: Anne Marie Owen

Anne Marie Owen — Wed, 05 May 2010 11:08:58 +0000

David Allen’s system and guidance brings me to a soothing level of patience and courage. I find it easier to apply enhancements which allow pass through in any level of frustration once I take a moment to rise to the next level of perspective. When I talk GTD to my inner circle, I sometimes find hesitation to embrace it. Yet when I provide smooth results and a glimpse at a higher level perspective, there is excitement and energy brought to even the most mundane issue.

By: David Sanford

David Sanford — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:59:01 +0000

I’ve been a big fan of David Allen for many years. This video was a quick reminder why. Once again, David presents great insights one after another, sometimes with only a sentence or phrase. As always, thanks, David!

By: Grant Hiesterman

Grant Hiesterman — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:42:00 +0000

I love David’s willingness to share ANYTHING that might help ANYONE at ANY LEVEL.

Personally, I am learning to make executive-type decisions on the front end of everything in my life; from the great to the small. I used to be content to just get them on my list in my system but found I often would not find or make the time to really get back into them at a level I needed. In other words, just getting them into my GTD system was the end rather than a place holder.

It does not fit in every situation of life but I am applying the two minute rule to more and more. I ask What is it? What does it mean to me? Then make a decision and move on. I’m not always correct but getting better and traveling much lighter mentally.

Thanks David for making the time to share this with us.

By: Allan Crawford

Allan Crawford — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:55:42 +0000

Three things really stand out for me from David’s short piece. First…don’t be the bottle neck…pass things on quickly. Second, get things out of your mind so that you can focus on what’s important (i.e., write them down someplace you know you can find them…and act on them…when you need to). There is so much coming out in the cognitive sciences now that supports this. And finally – as a high level exec if you are thinking about going on to a next phase in your life, where you may not have the admin staff to support you…set up a system that you can trust to keep track of what you need to know…and what you need to do. As always…great advice.

By: Stephen J. Lalla

Stephen J. Lalla — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:56:46 +0000

As usual, David Allen makes the complex simple. My take away was scheduling creative thinking time each week.