Verbs for Action and Projects

[Anne Naylor]

Can anyone help me to expand my lists for Action and Project verbs? I feel sure that part of what has held me back in the past is not using verbs which actually move me forward into completions - learning curve here.

I have the suggested GTD verbs and would love to find some more that you have used effectively with successful results. Recommendations very much welcomed!

Thank you.

Anne
www.AnneNaylor.com

 

[TesTeq]

Check these threads...

Check these threads:

• http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6530
• http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5757

 

[richard.watson]

Another possibility...

I quite liked this for project naming:
http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2219
Specifically, read Frank Buck's message, #3 on the page.

Not sure how much this was taken up, any old timers tried it out?

[Update...very similar to the links in the previous message!]

 

[cornell]

I thought Merlin's post was great: GTD: Project Verbs vs. Next-Action Verbs. The Time/Design folks teach "big verbs" vs. "little verbs" - similar idea. The main point is to not mix them - the brain will definitely avoid the big ones if they're on the same list!

 

[Scott_L_Lewis]

A List From Jason Womack

Can anyone help me to expand my lists for Action and Project verbs? I feel sure that part of what has held me back in the past is not using verbs which actually move me forward into completions - learning curve here.

I have the suggested GTD verbs and would love to find some more that you have used effectively with successful results. Recommendations very much welcomed!

Thank you.

Anne
www.AnneNaylor.com

Anne,

I'm not sure what list of suggested GTD verbs you have, but here is a list that Jason Womack posted a long time ago. In this case, he called them "trigger verbs" because he used them to remind people of all of their commitments during a mind dump. You might still find it useful for your purposes.

Next Action Trigger Verbs
by Jason Womack

apply
build
buy
clarify
complete
create
deliver
design
ensure
establish
finalize
find
finish
handle
identify
implement
increase
install
interview
invent
lead
learn
look into
minimize
obtain
optimize
organize
own
publish
reorganize
resolve
revise
roll out
send
set up
simplify
solve
stop
store
streamline
structure
submit
systematize
test
understand
update

Acquire
Activate
Adjust
Administer
Apply
Approve
Arrange
Assemble
Assist
Attain
Budget
Build
Catalogue
Classify
Compile
Complete
Conduct
Consolidate
Control
Coordinate
Define
Deliver
Demonstrate
Design
Develop
Diagnose
Direct
Eliminate
Empower
Enlist
Establish
Finalize
Forecast
Gain
Generate
Guard
Head
Hire
Implement
Improve
Increase
Index
Inform
Install
Interpret
Introduce
Invent
Launch
Lead
Maintain
Manage
Merge
Modulate
Motivate
Negotiate
Observe
Operate
Organize
Oversee
Participate
Perform
Persuade
Plan
Prepare
Present
Produce
Program
Propose
Recommend
Release
Render
Renegotiate
Renovate
Reorganize
Repair
Report
Research
Review
Revise
Secure
Select
Sell
Setup
Simplify
Solve
Sort
Stimulate
Strengthen
Summarize
Teach
Train
Use

 

[Anne Naylor]

Scott,

Thank you! This list is really helpful. My sense now is that the verb has to drill down to something really specific and do-able and measurable as a successful outcome. Woolly won't do it.

Anne