Getting Things Done is a world-famous book on productivity written by management guru David Allen. He has developed a model which helps in getting results when you have multiple tasks to do. Even Presidents of America and other nations have been trained by him to apply this model.
I was fortunate to have met David Allen and discuss various ideas. Over a lunch he told me, “I developed Getting Things Done (GTD) model, and over 30 years I only teach this one model. And, I am surprised they still call me for the same topic. Maybe it works…”
With a smile I said, “Same with me—I don’t teach other than Chanakya and it seems to be working…” and handed over my book ‘Corporate Chanakya’.
I have been teaching Chanakya models of leadership and productivity for over 20 years and it is working. And, here is the Indian version of Getting Things Done: It is called Kautilya’s Arthashastra. Among various sutras (formulas) here is one for getting things done.
Chanakya says, “In case the employee misses the time (of completion) or does the work in a wrong manner, he may complete the work through another.” (3.14.10-14).
Even though we want to do all the work ourselves, most of our work nowadays is dependent on others. Be it having a domestic help at home, or a junior employee who helps you prepare a report. Even professors require assistants in University research projects. And a plumber or electrician is required for getting things fixed.
Chanakya is telling us: In case an employee is not able to complete work on time, or does not do it in the right way, the work still has to be completed through someone else. Finally, results matter. So how do we practice this in our daily life?
Plan your work
The first step to getting things done is to define the outcome. Most of us start working without having a plan. We just start without thinking. And the common attitude is, “Let us start first, things will fall into place.” This method is wrong. You may start immediately but will get stuck later.
So, best is to spend time in defining what is expected and in what time frame. For instance, it’s festival time and you want to get your house cleaned up. Take a piece of paper and write down what it means to you by ‘cleaning the house.’ Clearing your wardrobe of old clothes, giving up your old books to an underprivileged child, buying new curtains and bedsheets, or getting the house painted. You define what all you need to get done. Take out some focused time for thinking on this and remember to plan on paper, and not just making mental notes.
Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai is an Indian management thinker, author, and Founder of Atma Darshan and Chanakya Aanvikshiki. Dr Pillai has extensively researched Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the 3rd century BC treatise and incorporated it into modern management.
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