DEVELOPMENT
For you , as an executive assistant there are some great lessons here to help you navigate 2021 .
It ’ s the little things you do that make the biggest difference If you want to change a routine or habit , be better at time management or communication ; the trick is not to try changing everything at once . Just focus on small consistent changes and momentum soon follows . Even when faced with a large project or task , breaking it down into smaller components means it is more manageable and eases any angst or overwhelm .
Tips a Tasmanian gave us in 1902 to embrace change in 2021
Nigel Collin takes you back to 1902 when an enterprising young man had an idea
THE EXPERT
Nigel Collin is a change and leadership expert helping people and organisations make change happen through small consistent steps . He is author of ‘ Game of Inches ’, an Internationally recognised keynote speaker and executive coach .
J . A . Birchall owned a small stationary shop in Launceston , Tasmania . At the turn of last century , if you wanted to communicate with your clients , or colleagues you couldn ’ t jump on social media , email or text them . You would most likely grab a sheet of paper and write a memo or note and then physically give it to them or have someone else run up six flights of stairs or across town to do so .
Added to this complexity is that , unlike today ’ s world , when you bought writing paper in 1902 you did so in large individual sheets , which you would then cut to size and use . But our hero , young Mr Birchall , had an idea . He wrote to his suppliers in England and suggested they cut the sheets down into smaller , more manageable sizes . He then evolved the idea and suggested they place a firm backing board under the sheets , so they didn ’ t have to be rolled . He took it even further and suggested they get some gum and glue the top edges of the loose sheets together so people could peel them off one by one , without individual sheets coming loose and falling on the ground .
It took a while to convince his suppliers but eventually J . A . Birchall ’ s creative scheme came into existence . I bet you didn ’ t know a Tasmanian from Launceston invented the writing notepad that we know today .
Pivoting is overrated and risky ! While inventing the writing notepad , J . A . Birchall didn ’ t reinvent paper or letter writing . Rather he evolved something already in existence to better suit the times and the problem at hand . During COVID-19 I have interviewed dozens of businesses and none of them completely re-invented everything . They evolved or tweaked something already there . When it comes to advancing your career in 2021 and best helping executives through the next 12 months , it may be a tweak or variation in what you do that has impact , not changing everything .
Play to your strengths Birchall played to his strengths and leveraged what he knew . As a stationer he didn ’ t go about trying to invent the iPhone . In uncertain times it ’ s important to know what you are good at and leverage it . Yes , you should still step out and learn new things , but to effectively change you need to have a grasp on what you are good at and have a level of understanding about what you are changing .
Don ’ t rush In coming up with the idea for his notepad , J . A . Birchall progressed his idea in stages . It didn ’ t appear out of thin air all in one moment . His idea grew and built upon the previous iterations . A pitfall many people fall into is expecting to have all the answers or for everything to happen at once . Let ’ s be realistic , things take time . If you rush you risk tripping and making mistakes . That ’ s no good for you , your boss or your career .
JA Birchall may not have experienced a pandemic like COVID-19 , and he may not have been an executive assistant , but he did understand the importance of small changes by trying new things and improving what was already in place . There is great value in that because as 2021 unfolds , it will no doubt throw a few surprises our way . That ’ s why the best way to navigate it is step by step , inch by inch . S
www . nigelcollin . com . au
60 Chief of Staff | Issue 1 2021