Agile Planning
This component is about setting clear, actionable goals that align your daily work with your long-term vision. It moves beyond static to-do lists to create a dynamic planning process. Key concepts include:
- Goal Pyramids: A structure to connect your high-level "North Star Vision" with practical, action-level tasks, ensuring everything you do has a purpose.
- Progressive Planning: A balanced approach that combines high-level roadmaps with detailed planning only for the immediate future, maintaining both direction and flexibility.
- Effective Prioritization: A smarter way to prioritize by understanding the difference between internal goals (what you plan to do) and external requests (what others ask of you), using a LIFO (Last-in, First-out) approach to maintain control over your agenda.
Focus Cycles
This is the cornerstone of the system, structuring work into manageable, rhythmic cycles instead of relying on rigid, distant deadlines. This approach fosters deep work and adaptability. Key concepts include:
- Rhythmic Work: Organizing work into natural cycles—such as a Focus Year, Focus Month, Focus Week, and Focus Day—each with its own planning and review phase.
- No More Due Dates: Shifting the focus from arbitrary end-dates to what can be realistically accomplished within a specific cycle, which reduces stress and improves quality.
- Agile Review: Using the end of each cycle as a moment for reflection and learning, allowing for constant refinement of your process.
Agile Teams
This component focuses on building empowered, cohesive teams that can self-organize and thrive, especially in remote or hybrid environments. Key concepts include:
- Empowered, Self-Organizing Teams: Building small, cross-functional teams that are trusted to take ownership of their work and make decisions collaboratively.
- Holistic Visibility: Using work visualization tools and transparent communication to ensure everyone is aligned and understands progress without micromanagement.
- Collaborative Roles: Integrating roles like the Productivity Coach (who guides the team's process) and Pair Workers (who collaborate closely on tasks) to enhance focus and efficiency.