When you agree to take an action, do you also give others a commitment of when you’ll do it by (the so-called “what-by-when”)?  As much as this practice is generally recommended in today’s business world, allow me to offer a contrary view: This practice has big downsides, and obscures a better way that comes from an altogether different paradigm.

The alleged benefit of routinely asking for or offering a “what-by-when” upon agreeing to do an action is simple…

I gave a lecture yesterday, and as I was starting to speak I looked out and saw faces consumed with fatigue and stress.  It’s finals time, and the students are suffering.  So, rather than talk about what I had planned, I switched gears and gave an impromptu lesson on Getting Things Done, which I’ve covered here.

I was shooting from the hip, and was afraid I’d dumb it down too much, but I think that by taking this quick approach it may have resulted in people actually…