Everyone wants to be good. Everyone is the hero of their own story. You’re not as good as you can be, and being better is up to you. Accept this. Take a humble, self-improvement approach to your PAO life. I know you’d be better if only these things happen. Guess what? Being good is 100% and totally up to you. Do these things to be better:
- Never Talk About Your Lack of People Again – In 2020, stop talking about not having enough resources. It really sounds bitchy and no one thinks you’ll be better if you had more resources. Your boss doesn’t want to hear it. Your peers don’t want to hear it, either does your spouse. Do your job the absolute best way you can, without excuse, and the needed resources will follow (hint: it’s probably not more people).
- Concentrate on Doing What Matters: Figure out your mission (hint: It probably has something to do with protecting America). Only do what contributes to the mission. Will you make everyone happy? Probably not. Will you have to have hard conversations with your boss? Maybe. But guess what guys? My PAOs don’t do lame facebook page management, my PAOs concentrate on tasks which contribute to the mission. You can too.
- Walk and Talk the Role: You are your organization’s public representative and communication expert. Read about communication and talk about it at work. Read the news and talk about it at work. Get fit and walk confidently, fat PAOs don’t represent the organization or branch well.
- Serve: If you’re the PA boss your job is to break down walls and build bridges for your subordinates. Take a humble service approach to 2020 – in your daily interactions consider how you can help your peers, your boss and especially your subordinates. Work for those around you rather than them working for you.
Who knows what 2020 will bring, guys? Times are changing. Nothing is permanent, nothing is certain. Will the public affairs branch always exist? Unsure. Should it? Unsure. Space Force? Yep. Dogs and cats living together? uh huh. Will you get more or less people? Doesn’t matter.
You can only control what you can control and that includes how you approach your job, yourself, your team and your mission.
Now go and do likewise.
Majors shouldn’t be taking photos.
Photo by Maj. Vonnie Wright
