Organising Yourself
It has become a regular occurrence that UK politicians are “long-lensed” as they leave meetings, their papers subsequently splashed across the media using revealing some embarrassing detail in their brief - of course the cynic might advance the theory that some of these ‘accidents’ are calculated to get their message out.
This week it was the turn of Dominic Rabb, the UK Foreign Secretary, who had his well organized and hyper-tabbed folder photographed as he left a Cabinet meeting. It caused much mirth - his private office clearly looking after their minister - “read in car”, “you have prep time”, “read on way to event”.
And yet after the initial amusement what busy person wouldn’t want this level of support. It got me thinking.
Most of us don’t have a private office but it doesn’t mean we don’t have a need to be disciplined to not only do the work but have the knowledge and intelligence to do the work that helps us do the work.
Everyone has their own methods but let me explain mine.
Every day I spend 30 minutes away from my desk (for me that’s vital so I think a little differently) preparing myself for the day ahead. Putting together all the material for the day, the items I need for each meeting and activity but also the additional items I can read during commuting, waiting time, coffee time. You get the picture. It requires a shift in approach during this task you’re pushing a boundary to make yourself do additional things when you know you are going to be busy.
I find this approach is essential otherwise you are just going to check off the important tasks ‘three meetings scheduled, three meetings completed’, ‘important emails answered’ etc. You don’t have a private office or assistant pushing you so you have to push yourself and it can’t just be rolled up into a long list of additional work to be done at the weekend. Because you won’t do it.
It’s helped that, before I moved into brand marketing, I spent 7 years working for Members of Parliament, government ministers and high ranking politicians. I got used to preparing briefing packs and slipping in just one additional bit of reading.
If no one is pushing you, you have to push yourself and sometimes that’s a whole lot easier to do when it’s your alter ego doing it. Try it.
About The Author
Mark Izatt is a brand consultant living in London and founder of Mission Critical, a highly focused and curated weekly briefing for time poor and information hungry decision makers and THE FIRST, a monthly briefing containing 31 inspirational insights. Mission Critical is a digital product delivered via his Estonian Consultancy business.
