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Using the Getting Things Done methodology in the LeaderTask organizer
GTD is an action management strategy and also a system of methods and techniques the purpose of which is to help a modern person complete more and get tired less. The GTD abbreviation stands for Getting Things Done which is the name of a book by an American business trainer David Allen.
The main principles of GTD with examples of how it can be done in LeaderTask:
1) Organizing information. All incoming information must be stored in one place. This way it is easier to view it and find what you need. And all information should be divided into actions, i.e. what you should do (tasks in LeaderTask), and reference information (notes in LeaderTask).
2) Grouping tasks by context. It is better to perform tasks that have the same context (place, person, event, ...) together (several at a time) even if they belong to different projects.
Examples:
context Bank: it is better to do all tasks related to the bank at once instead of doing only part of them belonging to some project/task.
context John Smith: when you see this person, it is better to solve all problems related to him at once instead of one task or just ignore altogether.
The only question is how to remember what should be done at the right time in the right place? LeaderTask is specifically designed to give answers to these question with one click. Examples: when you go the bank, you print a todo list with tasks filtered by the following criteria: "Bank: all tasks". When you accidentally see John Smith in a bus, you look at the todo list and see all tasks realted to him (besides, tasks will most probably be from different projects).
In other words, grouping tasks by context = doing relevant things right here right now.
* context is more often called kairos in terms of time mamagement.
3) Criteria for selecting tasks to do
1. By context (what is to be done in this place? with this person? in case of this event?)
2. By time (what is to be done at this time? and do I have time to do it?)
3. By effort (do I have energy to complete this task?)
4. By priorities (what is the most important thing to do?)
All criteria except for # 3 (since the computer cannot decide how you feel) are present in LeaderTask:
Context and time are implemented in "Categories", "Contacts", "Time periods (dates)", "Projects";
Priorities are implemented as priorities and the user can define his own set of priorities and group tasks using this set.
4) Natural planning model.
The model of planning a project proposed by David Allen:
1. Defining the purpose (”why”) and principles of work.
2. Envisioning the desired outcome
3. Brainstorming the way how to achieve this outcome
4. Organizing work
5. Identifying next actions
Projects are represented as a separate section in LeaderTask. Project properties include its goals, the responsible person, its time frame, the "project completed" mark. All actions (tasks) by the project are kept within its context, i.e. displayed when it is active.
5) Weekly review.
The number of tasks is constantly increasing, ideas, thoughts, solutions keep coming to us all the time. There are useful and not very useful ones among them. For you not to get lost in heaps of your own plans, David Allen recommends that you do a review at least once a week - "Weekly review". This review will help you get rid of irrelevant tasks, make your goals clearer, evaluate how close you are to your goals, etc.
The main priority in LeaderTask is making it comfortable to view tasks. It is achieved with the help of "Filters", i.e. predefined sets of criteria tasks will be filtered by.
Sample filters:
"My today tasks", "Bank tasks","IMPORTANT", "URGENT", "Monthly sales", "Project XYZ in September", "Delegated tasks", "Topics for meeting on project N", "Overdue tasks", "Yearly goals", "Calls", "Yearly goals review" ...
Thus, LeaderTask is very conveneint if you use David Allen's methodology - Getting Things Done!
Use LeaderTask - complete more, get tired less!!!
Download LeaderTask
http://www.leadertask.com/download/leader.exe
LeaderTask homepage
http://www.leadertask.com/
LeaderTask support forum
http://www.todoforum.com/ -
4 Answers sorted by
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> Thanks for posting this. We'd like to add LeaderTask to the list. What's
> your take on the following GTD support criteria?
> Name of product: LeaderTask
> Description:
LeaderTask is a business organizer for a modern person. LeaderTask has a smart
system for managing projects, tasks, contacts, events. Want to complete more? Get tired less?
Earn more? And permanently improve the quality of life, work hard less and contemplate
peacefully more? LeaderTask will help you with that!
LeaderTask = Scheduler + Personal Information Manager + Calendar + Address Book + Organizer!
> Main URL: www.leadertask.com
> Scanning URL:
http://www.leadertask.com/content/view/13/28/
> Is dedicated or not? true
> OS(s) Supported:
Win98-WinWP-Vista
> Other requirements:
10 Mb Hdd; 64Mb RAM
> Last Release Date:
january 12 2008
> Version Reviewed:
5.5
> Free version?
yes (30 day trial)
> Premium version?
none
> Price(s) for premium version:
$34.95
> Features:
http://www.leadertask.com/content/view/61/65/
The LeaderTask time organizer has a lot of features related to time management
and organizing human activities. LeaderTask will help you get organized in any
time management methodology.
1. Displaying tasks in the form of a tree. It is much more convenient to keep tasks in the form
of a tree. It is possible to build a hierarchy of tasks with any level of nesting.
2. Displaying tasks in a calendar. Viewing periods of time within the calendar grid. Editing
tasks, reminders in the calendar. Creating personal schedules, creating recurrent tasks.
3. Filtering tasks. Quickly getting sets of tasks, for instance: “Me Today”, “IMPORTANT”,
“URGENT”, “Monthly Sales”, “Project XYZ in September”, “Monitoring delegated tasks”, “Bank”,
“To Buy”, “To Read”, “Meeting Issues”, “Overdue Tasks”, “Year Goals”...
4. Priorities. It is possible to assign priority (importance) to every task. It is possible to
define your own set of priorities.
5. Reminders. It is possible to set reminders about some events, tasks.
6. Comfortable navigation. You can navigate through task sections using a special tree-like “Navigator”
pane, by enabling the necessary filter and customizing the “Filtering” pane and bookmarks in the task tree.
7. Personal information manager. LeaderTask allows you to store absolutely any information in its
database: documents, images, diagrams, texts, all kinds of data. Moreover, you can store both links
to files and files themselves.
interface
8. User interface and flexible settings. You can completely customize the appearance of Leadertask the
way you like it: position the main toolbars, customize the appearance of the task tree, highlight task
categories, set custom icons, use flexible settings and much more.
portable
9. Ease of use. Most functions of the organizer make use of commonly used hotkeys. You can also
open the program using a keyboard shortcut.
10. Templates. Maintaining the library of task templates, ready solutions, notes, algorithms.
Templates will be useful for storing tasks that are necessary to be performed at some time.
11. Protection. Providing information security. LeaderTask effectively protects data with the help
of data encryption, by limiting access to the program with passwords. It is also possible to back up data.
12. Contacts. Organizing the storage of contacts and any information related to them: grouping, storing any
data, quickly opening a contact (email, ICQ, www, phone…)
13. Password manager. It is possible to use LeaderTask as an electronic wallet or a password manager.
The wallet is used to store confidential information, for example, credit card numbers, addresses and
access codes to services, usernames and passwords to restricted sections on sites. LeaderTask is a
secure storage for your confidential information. Passwords are safely hidden by the protection and
encryption system. Also, special features can quickly extract the necessary password and insert it into the right place.
14. Mobility. Storing all data in one place allows you to easily move LeaderTask to other computers. All
information will always be at hand wherever you are!
15. File container. Storing copies of files of any type. LeaderTask can store any files in its database:
Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, images… Moreover, it does not can store both files inside LeaderTak
and links to external files.
16. Link manager. LeaderTask will help you easily maintain collections of links to websites. You can store
links in the form of a tree, add any other information to them: screenshots, comments, related contacts…
Links make use of a wide set of hotkeys. Also, it is possible to open links from LeaderTask.
17. Data backup. It is possible to back up data. Working with several data versions. Rolling back to the old
version of the database. Restoring tasks from the backup copy.
> Syncs with:
Outlook-Import contacts
> How does it sync (Each: 1=Import/export, 2=manual sync, 3=auto sync
> (how), 4=direct integration, 5=plugin)
> Exchange Server compatible? (n/a, cached, uncached, both, unspecified)
n/a
> Categories: Single, Nested (1 level using Groups)
> Dates: (# of fields)
yes
> Reminders: Y/N
Yes
> Auto-prioritization:
No
> Project/Next Step support: 3=hierarchical tasks/projects
> Schedule tasks into calendar: dual view
> Other Features Link:
http://www.leadertask.com/content/view/61/65/
> Review links (w/dates):
http://www.leadertask.com/content/blogcategory/13/34/
> Discussion links:
http://www.todoforum.com/
> Video Links:
(Not true videos, really screen shots) http://www.leadertask.com/content/view/21/36/
> Notes:
http://www.leadertask.com/content/view/45/46/ -
Thank you!
I had to make some adjustments to your information to make sure it met our criteria: Please correct me if I'm wrong:
- You DO have a free version (30 day free trial)
- It looks like a single context/category is allowed for each task ("Work") rather than multiple ("Work, Personal").
- The video link you provided doesn't really provide videos. That link is reserved for true videos. Sorry.
- I couldn't see screen shots that clearly showed hoe to make tasks appear in both the calendar and task list. Do you indicate that it has a start/end time and it appears in both the task list and calendar without copying? -
Please read this article:
Using the Getting Things Done methodology in the LeaderTask organizer
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