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Today’s guest post is from Mike St. Pierre of The Daily Saint.

When should you speak up and offer a tip to someone whose productivity isn’t stellar? Is it when their work-flow is negatively impacting yours or when they are about to crash and burn? David Allen once said, “It would be rude not to share what I know with those who want to hear it.” Let’s look at this more closely.

Rude not to share… For GTD enthusiasts, the art of productive living is a craft which we have an obligation to pass on to others. For example, if you are skilled at meeting facilitation, offer that to your group as a skill. If project planning is your gig, find ways to activate that talent and share it with others. If the larger organization will benefit, offer up your skills for the sake of the whole.

What I know… Those who practice GTD don’t flirt with best practices, they immerse themselves in them. They are not beta testing every new app that comes on the market because they have systems that are already in place. In a word, they practice what they preach. Their toolbox is well-worn because they know what works.

With those who want to hear it… This part of Allen’s quote is perhaps the most difficult. It implies that you know your colleagues well enough to push through or back off, both at exactly the right time. Sure, it’s easy to offer a public workshop on Getting Things Done; your audience will be dazzled and then leave into the night, never to be seen again. But for those with whom you work, sharing your GTD can be hit or miss. When should I step in and help Fred out? Is Marcia equipped for this role on project X? You can’t force knowledge on anyone so get to know your coworkers well enough to offer help when appropriate.

One final thought: sharing productivity with others rests on humility. Nobody likes a know-it-all so don’t force it. Be on the lookout for those who may be receptive to a new way of doing things. Who knows? Today might be the day that someone is looking for a helping hand.