Building a complete projects list
HELPFUL QUALITY CHECK QUESTIONS
HAVE YOU CAPTURED ALL OF YOUR MULTI-STEP OUTCOMES, PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY?
Read the “Five Phases of Workflow” handout for assistance with gathering what has your attention
(collect/capture), deciding what it means to you (process/clarify), and putting it into your system
(organize).
DOES EACH PROJECT ON YOUR LIST INCLUDE A VERB TO DESCRIBE WHAT “DONE” LOOKS LIKE?
Read the “Project and Next Action Verbs” handout for suggestions for using verbs on your
Projects list.
WILL EVERY PROJECT ON YOUR LIST BE COMPLETE WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?
Read the “Horizons of Focus” handout to delineate between projects and longer-term goals,
objectives, and visions.
Your Projects list should only capture your desired outcomes that will be complete within the next
12 months.
DOES EVERY PROJECT HAVE AT LEAST ONE CLEARLY DEFINED NEXT ACTION?
Read the “Project and Next Action Verbs” handout for suggestions for using verbs on your Next
Actions list.
HAVE YOU CAPTURED EVERYTHING THAT CURRENTLY HAS YOUR ATTENTION ON YOUR PROJECTS LIST?
Read the “Natural Planning Model” handout to walk yourself through a simple and intuitive model
for fleshing out your project details, from Purpose to Next Actions.
DO YOU HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR MOVING NEXT ACTIONS FORWARD ON YOUR PROJECT?
Read the “Five Phases of Workflow” handout for information on the Review/Reflect phase, which
includes capturing what’s next on your projects.
David Allen
For more GTD learning resources, visit gettingthingsdone.com/store.