As you know, time is our only limited resource. As PAOs, it’s also one of the most important things we have to give this nation.
To start, some facts:
- PAOs don’t command hundreds of Soldiers.
- We’re not responsible for millions of dollars of equipment.
- We are not generally in the most dangerous of combat situations, although there of course are exceptions.
Instead, we have our time to offer (and offer wisely). Here are a few ways to do so:
Be available to your commander and staff. Better yet, already be where they are so nobody ever has to go looking for you. This means being when they are, and may mean saving other important work for another, later time in the day.
Speak with your people. Get to know their strengths and weaknesses. Since Public Affairs staffs are generally smaller than other staff sections, spend twice as much time getting to know your individuals. For example, in my “command” time as a captain, I led seven NCOs in a Public Affairs Detachment (whereas an infantry company, according to Wikipedia doctrine, has 80-150 members). I got to know my people very well and strived to personally contribute to each soldier’s development as a public affairs professional.
Use your time to give your folks creative opportunities and constructive feedback. Create space for your folks to experiment, research and try new things. Dave B. called this “fuck around time;” all in support of the mission, of course. Let your folks use this time, and be willing to work late, provide feedback, or help clean up any well-meaning messes that may have been incurred.
Work nights and weekends to stay up to date in real time. If there’s public affairs guidance that must be drafted, go ahead and draft it tonight, so you have something tangible to ship, or at least refine, tomorrow.
Early mornings, to read the news before anyone else, help too.
Read everything. Breaking news. Longer think pieces. Essays, books, transcripts. Listen to podcasts, while you’re at it. Use your clear understanding of public narratives to guide your organization’s contribution to these narratives.
Make calls and maintain relationships. You’re not going to be able to build and repair relationships in the midst of a communication crisis. Find the right occasions to work with your most important contacts, but don’t waste anybody’s time by networking for the sake of networking.
Blog about your career field. It’s our professional responsibility.
Needless to say, make each second of time useful. Time is an effort; and enough effort applied in the right manner will lead to effects. Offer your time generously and for impact; not wastefully.
How are you going to spend your time in 2019?
(Photo by Samantha Heilig, DVIDS)
Note: I know different people in different life situations will have strong feelings on this topic. There’s a time and place for everything, and as I stated up front, time is our only limited resource. For instance, I wrote this post while sitting on my couch at 4 p.m. on a Wednesday, holding my newborn son. On balance, work longer than your peers. In the moment, do your best and use your brain.
