Work can be stressful. In fact most of the time, it’s very stressful, and it affects your productivity.

So working in an environment where stress doesn’t exist would be a dream come true for many, right? That’s where David Allen comes in.

Allen is a life coach, a very revered one at that, who is in Dubai this week to discuss elements from his new book Getting Things Done: the Art of Stress-Free Productivity.

Ahead of his talk, we asked the seasoned coached to give us some pointers to help ease and improve our working day:

Creating stress-free productivity

This can be put into five steps:
1. Capture potentially meaningful thoughts and inputs in trusted places
2. Clarify exactly what each of them means and all outcomes and action steps involved
3. Organise the inventory of your commitments in discrete categories
4. Reflect on, review, and keep current that inventory
5. Trust your intuitive choices about what you do, and what you don’t do

Mastering workflow

The above five steps define what your “work” really is, and allows you with maximum efficiency to stay focused and in control of all aspects of your work and life.

Making clear decisions

The most important decisions to make about anything are:
- Is it actionable?
- If so, what’s the very next action required to move it forward?
- If one action will not complete it, what’s the final desired outcome?

Work seldom shows up clearly defined; we have to do that for ourselves.

Techniques for prioritisation

Use a simple equation: what activity can I possibly engage in at the moment that would produce the greatest payoff to me if it were completed?

Another way to approach it is to ask yourself: what most has my attention? What, if handled effectively, would relieve the most pressure on me?

Details: David Allen is speaking at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai on Wednesday 29th October. Visit: DavidAllenDubai.com