Getting Results the Agile Way: A Productivity System Overview

Productivity is a buzzword that has been around for a while now. People are always looking for ways to work smarter and get more done in less time. In this quest, various productivity systems have been developed over the years to help individuals and organizations achieve optimal results. One such system that is gaining prominence is the Agile Way productivity system. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Agile Way and what makes it different from other productivity systems.

What is the Agile Way?

The Agile Way is a productivity system that is based on producing results rather than activities. It takes cues from the Agile software development methodology and emphasizes making time your best friend while aiming to produce better and more quality results. The system revolves around the power of “3” and encourages individuals to define three outcomes for their day, week, month, and year. At the end of each period, results are reviewed and areas for growth and improvement are identified before planning for the next period.

What’s Different About This System?

Compared to other productivity systems such as Getting Things Done (GTD) and Steven Covey’s 7 Habits, the Agile Way offers a slightly different approach. While GTD emphasizes clearing the runway level before defining what you want to do with your life, the Agile Way concentrates on the outcomes of your actions rather than the activities of checking things off your list.

The Agile Way also places a strong emphasis on reflection and making sure that you are producing results in your days, weeks, months, and years. Additionally, the system takes into account that projects and tasks are always changing, hence why it is important to continuously review and assess the validity of plans of action.

How Does the System Work?

The Agile Way system is straightforward and easy to implement. It revolves around the power of “3” and encourages individuals to define three outcomes for their day, week, month, and year. These outcomes are identified at the start of each period, and at the end of each period, results are reviewed, areas for growth and improvement are identified, and plans are made for the next period.

Another key component of the Agile Way is the idea of creating time boundaries for certain portions of your life. Referred to as “hotspots” by its creator, J.D. Meier, these areas include work, family, fun, creativity, spirituality, among others. By setting minimum and maximum times for these areas of your life, you create a work/life balance, which is crucial for productivity.

Impressions and Recommendations

In conclusion, the Agile Way is a productivity system that is gaining popularity due to its emphasis on producing results rather than activities. What’s really great about it is that it offers some direction for your days, weeks, months, and years, which can be helpful when trying to work smarter. While the GTD system is great at helping individuals identify and organize what needs to get done, the Agile Way offers a concrete system for “doing.”

Overall, the Agile Way is instantly implementable, making it easy to set up and start using right away. We highly recommend giving it a try, either by picking up the dead tree edition on Amazon or reading the entire book for free on the book’s site. Whether you’re a productivity pro or someone looking to work smarter, the Agile Way is definitely worth considering.