David Allen on "What is Black Belt?"
June 14, 2010 in Productivity
David Allen’s podcast at DavidCo has some interesting thoughts on the idea of being a “black belt” at Getting Things Done.
Allen describes the “black belt” practitioner as being more engaged and in control of their environment, rather than being a victim of it. The numbness that faces many of us, at one end of the “cranking widgets” spectrum and the crazy-busy-ness at the other, can often take away from the fact that we need to master the basic structures in order to properly manage our environment.
I see GTD as a philosophy, or an attitude toward our work, that envelopes more than just the Collect –> Process –> Organize –> Review –> Do –> Repeat cycle. Certainly mastering the process is important, essential really, to gain that confidence and experience the engagement that occurs when one is able to accept all of the different inputs and direct them to their proper place.
Just like a master chef is able to create an amazing dish with everyday ingredients that an amateur can only dream of, the Black Belt GTD practitioner is able to “effortlessly” direct their activities for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. The ease with which this happens is based on a great deal of practice, discipline, and the consistent execution of the fundamental principles.
Listen to the podcast here David Allen Podcast: David Allen – What is Black Belt? and share your thoughts in the Comments.
What would you like to work on to improve your own skill level?
Powered by ScribeFire.
