Comments on: Paper vs. Electronic: The Task List Tug-of-War

By: Leslie

Leslie — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:05:45 +0000

Andrea,
Thanks for your question. One thing that keeps professionals from adopting an electronic Task list (or any new system) is having one foot in and one foot out of the new system or routine. If a person hasn’t completely and totally built it with everything, including to-dos on paper, the ones from phone calls, next steps from meetings and to-dos in e-mail (just to name a couple), it’s hard to make a total transformation. Not only that, but without initial or ongoing training, it can be a challenge for some to know what’s possible, how to start and how to successfully make a total transition from one routine to another. And since e-mail is where many (or most) to-dos are hidden for people, it’s hard to consult a Task list, because there could be more to-dos sitting in the Inbox than on the list. That’s where the Taskology System works well because you can empty your Inbox and keep it empty or low all the time, knowing that all the related tasks are safely prioritized on the Task list. When you build the list completely, keep it up to date and put everything on there that you want to do, you’re more drawn to it and it will support you effectively. The better it supports you, the more you’re going to want to keep it up to date and accurate and it becomes a positive cycle. And at that point, when all your tasks are on one Task list, there’s really no where else to look.

By: Andrea Wenger

Andrea Wenger — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:07:10 +0000

I appreciate this thread and all the comments and opinions! My main issue (which applies here and also to the challenge of “e-hoarding” in email) is that my practiced way of being is “out of sight, out of mind.” I know I can change that with practice, however, I think it’s been a big barrier for me in using an online task list (I also haven’t gone to a Smart Phone yet) and keeping my Inbox clear. Do you have any particular comments about that, Leslie?

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:17:49 +0000

Thank you, Mark! I love my “work” and love helping others with productivity. When I meet with people in person, there’s no guessing about my level of enthusiasm for what I love to do. And I try to be timely with replies and comments here on my blog. It’s fun to talk with others and hear their points of view about what I write and about what impacts their work day productivity. Thanks for reading and I look forward to seeing you here again soon.

By: Mark Fitzgerald

Mark Fitzgerald — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:19:52 +0000

Nice comments by all the participants in this thread and special kudos to Leslie for responding in a timely manner to the questions or comments posted. Not many bloggers do this “task” (pun was intended), so thank you for your insight. Also wanted to say thanks for the Gravatar link. I’ll have to check this out sometime when I have the time. Keep up the good work that you are doing Leslie because when you do GOOD WORK you get more WORK!

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:48:05 +0000

Hi Linda,
Yes, you can print the Outlook task with certain details or if you have LOTS of details for a particular task, you can print just that one and see everything. But I would recommend a SmartPhone – or as you say a “super-phone-portable-brain” (love that!) – that syncs with Outlook so you can easily refer to it throughout the day.
Thanks for your question!

By: Linda Summers Posey

Linda Summers Posey — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:02:43 +0000

Leslie — Is your Taskology(TM) program set up so you can print out a day’s worth or half-day’s or hour’s worth of tasks to take with you while you’re out and about? I’m assuming YES, since it’s based on Outlook? This would be a must, since I’m lost unless I have specifics of what I’m up to in front of me, and I don’t (yet) have a super-phone-portable-brain to which I can download a computerized list. THANKS!

By: Monique

Monique — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:47:55 +0000

What a wonderful thread! I particularly appreciate the comment by Janet regarding ADD – I have had two encounters with professionals with ADD through my time management / getting over overwhelm training and coaching activities and am learning more about helping people deal with this. Thanks for the tip about Planner Pads, Janet!

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:10:42 +0000

Hi Janet,

I enjoyed reading your comment. Thank you for sharing your experience! I commend you for trying something new and finding something that works for you.

I understand that the right brain/left brain thinkers are different and while I don’t work with many folks who consider themselves “creatives” nor do I work with many who are ADD/ADHD (either self-diagnosed or formally diagnosed) I know that the challenges to task management are similar. I’ve read several books from experts who are specifically trying to help creative thinkers and those with ADD in their task management habits and I was actually surprised that the advice was very similar to what I teach.

Anyway, something else I wanted to mention… 70% of the population is visual, so that doesn’t really stand out as a reason not to go electronic for me. Most of us are primarily visual and then secondarily we are either auditory or kinesthetic. You actually sound very kinesthetic, which means you prefer learning and doing in a tactile sense – you need to touch it. That might even be MORE important to you than anything.

In any case, I agree with you that there are different thinkers out there with different requirements, different challenges and different preferences. Good for you for finding something that works so well for you!

By: Janet

Janet — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:30:34 +0000

I’d like to share my experience regarding paper vs electronic. I have tried for 3+ years to go the electronic route. I’ve even had people work with me on this who are big believers in getting rid of paper. It just wasn’t working for me-resulted in lots of frustration, missed appts, incomplete tasks, etc. Two important things about me: I’m an artist and therefore very visual, and I have Adult ADD. I need something I can touch, manipulate, erase and revise. An ADD resource recommended The Planner Pad. It was designed for people like me. http://www.plannerpads.com
Finally, I am having success with task management.
I understand the rationale for electronic task management, but this might not be the right thing for everyone’s brain chemistry and how they make sense of their lives.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:05:03 +0000

Amen, Deborah!

Sadly, it’s when the job’s NOT getting done and many professionals don’t question how they’re managing their day *right now.* And as I said in a previous comment, you don’t know there’s a better way… until you do.

If someone is not ready to take a good, close look at their daily productivity, ready to see where they could improve and then take a leap to try something that works better, then they’ll keep doing what they’re doing and get the same results.

But if a person is as successful as ever and nothing is getting missed, then by all means, do what works!

Thanks for your comment, Deborah!