Frequently Asked Questions

For all the trendy planners, task managers, organizational systems, and apps, there isn’t a tool in the world that will make you more productive or efficient. But you have big dreams and a lot to accomplish, so you know you need something to move you forward and achieve more.

Since 2001, GTD has guided those in search of more with self-reliant methods to create focus and freedom. Not just to get more done, but to apply thoughtful attention and intentional action to what matters most. As a proven, global methodology for productivity and time management, GTD gives you everything you need to bring order to chaos and achieve more.

Freedom. Focus. GTD.

STEP 1 - CAPTURE

• Collect what has your attention
• Write, record, or gather anything and everything that has your attention into a trusted collection tool

STEP 2 - CLARIFY

• Process what it means
• Is it actionable? If so, decide the next action and identify the project (if more than one action is required). If not, determine whether it’s trash, reference, or something to put on hold.

STEP 3 - ORGANIZE

• Put it where it belongs
• Place reminders of your categorized items in the appropriate locations.

STEP 4 - REFLECT

• Review frequently
• Regularly update and review all relevant parts of your system to regain control and maintain focus.

STEP 5 - ENGAGE

• Simply do
• Use your trusted system to make decisions and take action with clarity and confidence.

The GTD Weekly Review® is a weekly reflection process that helps you get clear and current, so you can be more creative and strategic in your life and work. It’s a cornerstone practice in the GTD system and something we emphasize in our coaching programs as a repeatable habit.

We coach a wide range of people in the GTD process, from new hires just beginning their careers and learning foundational tools and best practices, to senior executives seeking to be more strategic, focused, and impactful in their leadership roles.

A common theme we hear from many of our clients is that they lead rich, creative, and successful lives, yet feel they aren’t working in a sustainable way to produce what they need and want, both personally and professionally. GTD coaching is often the “glue” they’ve been missing to work more efficiently, productively, and strategically.

“After twenty-plus years, I’ve been able to find only one common denominator among the people and the organizations that have most implemented our productivity methodologies: They have a consistent internal forward momentum. It’s not lip-served or a merely conceptual “desire to improve” but rather a real deep-seated pull toward some improved future state for themselves or at least for things they feel responsible for. That’s why people and organizations that look very similar have highly varying degrees of attractions to what we do.. Their drive to get somewhere easier, faster, and better can be quite different…."

— David Allen

Of course you can install GTD by following the Getting Things Done book. Coaching tailors the GTD system and your tools specifically to you, with a seasoned coach by your side to help you course-correct, clear roadblocks, answer questions, and get you up to speed, often more quickly and easily than going it alone.

Coaching works when the person is ready to engage with it. If you're genuinely committed to changing how you work and willing to apply the system between sessions, the results are consistent. Where coaching falls short is when someone is looking for a quick fix or isn't in a position to carve out the time it requires. That's one reason we start with an inquiry call, to make sure the fit is right before anyone commits.

GTD coaching works by taking everything that has your attention, from your inbox to your ideas to your half-finished projects, and building a system around it that you can actually trust and maintain. Rather than teaching you a theory, your coach works with your real work, in real time.

Logistically, sessions are conducted virtually via video call, typically 90 minutes to two hours each with some programs having additional or mandatory options for in-person days. Most programs run two to four months with a minimum of two sessions per month. Between sessions, you apply what you've built, and bring real situations back to your coach for refinement.

That's exactly what the inquiry call is designed to figure out. Every new client speaks with Meg Edwards, our President and longest-serving GTD coach, who asks the right questions to understand where you are, what you're dealing with, and what you want to be different. From there, she matches you with the program and coach that fits best. You don't need to arrive with an answer, that's her job.

Each program is priced based on its scope and length. Foundation starts at $5,400 with programs rising in price from there depending on the level and time commitment involved. All programs are one-on-one and built around your schedule and pace. If budget is a consideration, then that's worth raising on the inquiry call. We'd rather have that conversation early than waste anyone's time.

Your coach will work with the tools you already use, there's no required platform or app. That said, you'll want a calendar system you trust, somewhere to capture tasks and projects, and a place for reference material. On the physical side, having a tray for incoming paper, a folder system, and something to write with is useful. If you're unsure whether your current setup is ready, an optional Tools Consultation is available as part of the Foundation and Strategy programs to help you get set up before coaching begins.

Block out uninterrupted time so we can fully work the program. We can create “islands” of time for urgent calls or other demands and adjust start and end times to fit your schedule, but you’ll get the most value by dedicating as much focused time as possible.

Have the following low-tech organizing supplies on hand:

• Sticky notes
• Blank letter-size paper (copy paper is fine) or legal pads (letter or junior size)
• Stack tray(s), at least one to use as an “in-tray” (we recommend stackable trays that are open on the long side)
• New file folders that match your system
• Automatic labeler (optional)
• Any current tools you use for your calendar, reference, and reminders

Yes, we can coach your team, but each person will be coached individually for a personalized, 1;1 experience. The exception would be if you have an executive and assistant team who work closely together, where it would make sense to pull them together for certain parts of the coaching process to clarify specific items.

This is not time away from work. This is your work. You will likely experience getting more of your real work done during this time than you would in your normal day-to-day mode.

This is not an academic, off-line program. It is conducted in the middle of the maelstrom, with the real things on your plate, on your mind, in your email, on your papers, and in your inbox. Additionally, the results of the process will likely repay these invested hours many times over.

GTD Focus specializes exclusively in one-on-one coaching. If you're looking for group training in the US or Canada, that's delivered by Crucial Learning. For self-paced learning, GTD Connect offers webinars, an audio and video library, and user forums. If you're unsure which format is right for you, the inquiry call is a good place to figure that out.

The Kairos Assessment is a set of 53 questions designed to map how your attention activates, what it locks onto, what it ignores, and how you process information across six cognitive channels. Your coach uses the results to design a GTD system that works with how your mind is wired, not against it. Every GTD Focus coaching client receives the Kairos Assessment as part of their program. Learn more about the Kairos Assessment →