How do you prioritize tasks and manage yourself?

I focus myself in three main areas.

1. TRAINING. It sounds cliché, but I prioritize training over almost everything else. I will miss Squadron meetings to check on training (I make sure my boss has plenty of heads up that I will be missing the meeting). I love command and refuse to let a powerpoint or email suck me away from a training event. Training to conduct R&S is what my Troopers do in garrison everything else supports that effort. This includes planning training. I will make sure I properly plan all training events.

2. ADMINISTRATION. If my SCO makes something a priority I ensure it gets done. This covers all the random admin tasks as well. I have a belief that I get more freedom to pursue priority 1 if I am not falling behind of evaluations or administrative actions. I am a morning person, so I come in early and knock this stuff out. This also frees me to check on training during the day. Also my 1SG reviews everything that comes across my desk. This greatly reduces the amount of time I have to spend on the 100 of documents I sign any given day. I read the stuff, but has usually caught all the errors so I am not correcting it and kicking it back.

3. FUTURE PROBLEMS. I use a good portion of time looking at my Troop’s systems and try to identify where problems will arise. I try to proactively get after those problems. If you ever take over a HHT do a commander’s arms room inspection with the S2 security officer. I bet your arms room will probably not do hot. If you can proactively get after that before it becomes an issue you will win and more importantly your Troopers will win.

How do you stay organized? What tools or apps do you use?

Outlook Calendar:

I read every order that Squadron publishes. I also am still on BDE S3 distro lists from my staff time so I at least peruse everything they publish. I then take what applies to me and make a calendar event and invite whoever it applies to in the Troop. I put the body of the tasking in the body of the invite. I scrub the calendar every morning to make I have not missed anything.

 

This is the simplest way for me to know what is going on and balance running the Troop on my tasks without dropping the ball on Squadron stuff.

 

I also make products due to Squadron an internal battle rhythm event. I come in early those days and make those products. I write my SITREP around the same time every week. I make my DTMS calendar at the same time. My computer reminds me.

What is one major change or habit that you made (in command or since taking command) to increase your productivity and adequately manage your time?

1. I force myself to get out of the office. I set a time to check on training or walk the footprint. It is a different time everyday. With that that backdrop of time coming up I work at a faster pace. I feel accomplished and get to be with my Troopers.

 

1. What are your “first” things or priorities?
   1. Training Resourcing. George summed it up better than I could have.
   2. Training Standards. My Troopers learn their tasks to proficiency, then learn to do it in darkness, then learn to do it under CBRNE conditions, then they knock out Burpees and do it again. My 1SG or I check in on every event and enforce these standards.
   3. Leader Development: How can I make my NCOs and Officers better. Typically getting after 1 and 2 do that, but sometimes I have to apply more direct development, like prep a PL or the XO to brief in my stead. Or I take a step back and let the XO out to supervise training at a range.
   4. Maintenance: How are we getting our fleet up the highest readiness level.
2. How did you keep yourself focused on these priorities through the commander chaos?
   1. I summed this up above. I set time to get up and leave my desk. It forces me to prioritize my work if I know I will be out of the office at 1315.
3. What things did you try to avoid or not commit to?
   1. I force myself to avoid getting sucked down the XO lane. I was a good XO and can do that job. It is easy to just do it, but I force myself to let my XO run his lane. If he needs help I will help him, but I will not get sucked into the world of TMDE and AOAP.