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10-Stwrd-Tips-art - 7/18/15

"Top Tips for Being an Organized Steward" by mistress katherine kerr.

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NOTICE -

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set of files, called Stefan's Florilegium.

These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous

stefan at florilegium.org

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Top Tips for Being an Organized Steward

by Master Bartholomew Baskin and Mistress katherine kerr

§ Make lists: what do you need to do?
Spell out roles and responsibilities.
Identify necessary resources, sources, problems and possible solutions.

§ Establish routines to keep organised: what do you need to do it?
Suitably named/structured files and information handling.
Putting things away in a logical place.
Reviewing needs/resources before/after events.

§ Establish a timeline and deadlines: when does it need doing?
Set yourself reminders to check things are progressing as they should.
Identify absolute deadlines for critical items, give yourself time to meet them.

§ Chunkify the tasks: what goes with what?
Break them down into manageable bits. (just like eating an elephant)

§ Communicate early and often: do people know what’s needed?
Up, down, sideways, out.
Make sure everyone knows their tasks and what is assumed of them.
Regularly review where you’re at and what’s urgent/important.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

§ Identify how to make things easier: what would help?
Actively learn from others; talk with experienced people to find out the problem areas and what may have worked for them.
Identify necessary/useful resources. (human or otherwise)
Don't be afraid to innovate - but be sure you are solving the right problem.

§ Understand limitations: what are the weak areas?
For people: identify weaknesses, team up complementary skill sets.
For logistics: identify needed resources and ensure they are there, or consider changing/adapting/dropping the idea.

§ Delegate or jettison: what can be handed on or dropped?
Identify which chunks can be handed on to be managed independently.
Identify which chunks are critical and which are nice to have, and be prepared to drop the latter if need be excellent can be the enemy of the good: 90% and all happy is a better outcome than 100% achieved and everyone fed up/burned out/gone.

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Copyright 2010 by Vicki Hyde. vicki at webcentre.co.nz. Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited. Addresses change, but a reasonable attempt should be made to ensure that the author is notified of the publication and if possible receives a copy.

If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.