What is Attention Compass - Workflows 3 & 4 - DBR 024

Episode 24 of the Do Busy Right - The Task and Attention Management Podcast podcast, hosted by Larry Tribble, Ph.D., titled "What is Attention Compass - Workflows 3 & 4 - DBR 024" was published on April 5, 2024 and runs 60 minutes.

April 5, 2024 ·60m · Do Busy Right - The Task and Attention Management Podcast

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Episode Description

This finishes the series on Attention Compass nuts and bolts. This is my coaching in a three-part, three-hour presentation. I want you to have this so you can start implementing.

Why should you implement Attention Compass? I think the modern work-style, the modern technology, and modern communications all work together to make us anxious/stressed about our work, our tasks, and where we're putting our attention. Attention Compass directly attacks that stress. If you are uncertain about your productivity. If you feel like stress is what drives you. I'm telling you that your work doesn't have to be this way. You can have productivity and progress, AND you can have peace and clarity.

The goal is for you to be able to implement, so I'm sharing so you'll understand what what attention compass is and how it works, and you can implement and actually do it. So, you know, my goal is that you get this learning that you get this ability, so that you can develop a system. If you want to rely on me to do it for you, then I'm happy to do that. And certainly, there's training available in this stuff. But you can begin to experiment on your own.

Two posts that are already up, those posts talk about the tool and two of the workflows. And now we need to talk about the other two workflows.

Recap of the first two episodes in the series

The tool – ep 1 – a tool that can hold the backlog
The first two workflows – ep 2 – about tending the backlog
The next two workflows – this episode – about using the backlog

Daily review workflow

Candidate to-do list
The most common way is to create a new to-do list each day, but wait….

Why the daily to-do is bad
First part – what to do – invites creativity, which is bad
Second part – limit to today – invites urgency, which is also bad
The rolling backlog avoids these two problems
AC doesn't rely on the daily to-do list

The candidate to-do list is always there (in a well-tended backlog) – bring it up to the minute in daily review

Compare the candidate to-do list to the calendar
Is today a good day to do the things that I reminded myself of

In daily review, pull things 'off' of the backlog

Do it early so we have time to let people know
This gives us a STRUCTURE for the day

Recording that structure

What is a work block
Three things are true now that the structure is recorded
A daily work routine – blocks and meetings – now look at transitions
What to do in transition times
The flow
The deep-shallow rhythm
The submarine

Recap the daily review

Weekly review

Maximum clarity and control

When to do the weekly review
Consider the perils of compartmentalization
Friday, Monday, and Sunday are probably bad
Try midweek weekly reviews – and think seven days rather than A WEEK

Steps in the daily review

Tidy up
Mind sweep
Last week's calendar
It's not as specific as 'planning the week'
Check on the broader scope of actionable tasks – review the lists for
priority changes
Process check
Is the system working for us?

Weekly review summary

Finalizing the workflows

Honor the sense of clarity and control

What about the bigger picture – review the three episodes

How the tool works with the workflows
Each of the four workflows
Capture and processing allow us to garden well
Daily and weekly review

Attention Compass is a system

Across these three episodes, I've given you an understanding of how Attention Compass works, how to set up the tool, and how to do the workflows. You can do this. Why not start realizing the benefits: lower stress, greater focus, and more results?

If you need help, connect with me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/larrytribble. Send me a message and we'll consider how to get you unstuck.