What's the next action

Quick tip for minor tasks in Outlook

18 07 05 - 23:46 - Bookmark this post

I use the GTD toolbar, but sometimes the project I’m is so tiny or has a really short timeframe. Most of the time it’s a mini-project for an existing customer for which I’m already engaged in another project. When that task is in Waiting for-mode, what I find myself doing most of the time is the following: Let's say I send an email with a question. I put it in my Waiting for list and during the Weekly Review (which, to be honest, happens every two weeks or so…I’m progressing!) I find it again. Or it pops up with a reminder to act on it. For instance, call or email if there is a reply underway. Whenever I call or email and I don’t get a proper respons, I don’t check the original item as “completed” but I keep it. I add date and time to the large textarea in the task, together with some small info like “called but was unavailable” or “sent mail regarding follow-up”. So I’ll always have this little mini-archive of this mini-project with me in my tasks. I don’t have to make a special projectfolder or anything.
Whenever a clients calls and asks on the status of this project, I can just say “Well, I emailed you on so-and-so date, called you 5 days later, sent another email, so you better tell me buddy!” Well not that last bit, but you get the point right?

Maybe it’s not GTD, but to me it’s trusted, keeps my head clean and infomration in place. And that’s the key right?

I like this site!
felicitas - 04 04 06 - 17:57