You don’t need much to do your job and be a great Public Affairs Officer. Use your brain, use what you have, and be a doer (rather than a wanter).
All of that being said, here are some things we like and appreciate. We use them in pursuit of our mission. Maybe you could use them, too.
White boards. Big ones, and lots of ’em. We have several, and to make space we have to wheel them into the hall when we aren’t using them. Use them liberally, always with “What do we want to achieve?” written across the top. Throw white board markers at one another often, for effect.
Nespresso. Boy, oh boy, do we love coffee. More importantly, our guests appreciate a good cup when they’re powering up for a white board session with our team. Get one of these, and keep a good stock of flavors for visitors.
A fish tank. Every office needs a fish tank.
A work fleece. Long nights in the JOC can be chilly. Be prepared for the long haul with one of these puppies. Your teammates will respect your preparation, and your style.
Plants. We don’t have a conference table, we have a plant table. Plants bring life and character into your work space. Nurture them, and your teammates and guests will appreciate the atmosphere.
Standing desks. Are they good for you? Who the hell knows. But when the commander or any of your staff partners pop in, you can either pivot around ready to attack, or struggle to get your fat ass out of a chair.
Almonds. Keep your energy up when crises force you to skip lunch or work through dinner. We keep one container stocked with two bags of plain almonds for every one bag of chocolate almonds, and then we shame the people who only pick out the chocolate ones.
A planner. I go back and forth on these. Even this recommendation, the Full Focus one, can get obnoxious and over-marketed at times. The dude who markets these even slaps his own quotes throughout the book. Yeesh. At the end of the day, the best to-do list for you is the one you’re going to use. Write down the next steps for your major tasks, check them off, then move on to the next day.
Uni Style Fit 3 Multi-Pen. PenAddict.com is a guilty pleasure of mine, and you know how we feel about junky pens. The 0.38 ink refills write smooth and come in plenty of different colors. Black, blue and orange are my go-to combo; pick what works for you.
Uni-Ball Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencil. If you’re not a pen kind of guy, this pencil will treat you right without breaking the bank. Orange is my go-to editing color, so I even keep one with colored pencil lead.
Metal prints. Paper and wood may rot and die, but like your organization’s mission to defend America, stone and steel will last forever. Put your organization’s top photos on these suckers to help your members swell with mission-connected pride.
Nespresso Half Caffeinato. After 3 p.m., you might need one last jolt before digging into your Board of Woe. Hit one of these bad boys and get to work.
An essential oil diffuser. Make your workspace feel like a spa of productive badassery. Lemongrass or citrus scents will boost your team’s energy. Skip the flower scents.
Gadgets and fidget toys. Another White Board Session essential. Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty is great but will get gross after a while. The fidget cube is genius.
Brief. A key part of last year’s MaxDisclosure reading list. Joe McCormack is a patriot and expert communicator. Keep a hard-cover copy by your desk, and throw it at people when they drone on and on.
A recycling bin. Leaders always talk about taking out the trash, but what about the environment, you animal?
Jefferson’s Ocean. For emergencies and Fridays.
(Photo by Spc. Noelle E. Wiehe, DVIDS)
