6th Dec 2010
The Big “O”
Some people do it sometimes and others all the time. Some are unprepared and others are over confident. Some always come late and others never do. Some always have some excuse and others are casual about it. Some can’t say ‘No’ and others end up making promises they never keep. It all boils down to the big “O”.
People have made lives of other people miserable by shunning the “O”. And before your naughty mind wanders away let me clarify that the big “O” here is that of an immensely important skill called ORGANIZATION. To be prepared to take on an unknown situation isn’t everybody’s forte. It is a skill. Rather a talent which I doubt can be taught. It is inborn. It is what some people are extremely good at- capable of gracefully dealing with anything anywhere absolutely spontaneously. Such people are a rare race. They are always the first ones to get into action. They are adept in saving themselves and others from embarrassing situations. And that’s because the Big “O” is an integral part of their lives.
However, there is this second breed of ignorant individuals who are completely unprepared even for a pre-planned structured event. And it is when I come across these people that I am hit by that ever so familiar wave of irritation mixed with frustration. These people are equally comfortable in all sorts of situations. And that’s because their contribution to anything is negligible. Never are they quite ready for anything. Never do they do their homework. Never are they prepared for anything. They always turn up late for everything, sit sloppily for a meeting wondering how to react or move around aimlessly during an event not knowing what and wanting to do not much. They never know what to say, when and why?? They are almost always incapable of answering any relevant question- simply because they are always unprepared! They don’t reply to mails, they don’t ever get back to you on anything they said they would. Also planning is just not something they’ve heard of! And it amuses me that they think that’s okay.
I once went to a wedding reception where the bride and groom were 1 ½ hours late. Some of the guests had had dinner and left their presents behind. These are the people with the missing ‘O’ in their lives. If only for once they meticulously prepared and planned and executed! The big ‘O’ can do wonders to your life- if only you stop underestimating its power.
I am no guru to advise anybody on organisational skills. I can’t say do A B C or come up with any ‘Mantra’. But I can share some things that I think help in organizing yourself.
• Reply to RSVP requests and other invitations even if in the negative.
• Return phone calls. Don’t keep the other person wondering what your reaction or reply is.
• Reply to mails even if in one sentence.
• Be punctual. Never leave others waiting. For anything. It feels like you are punishing them if you do. Plan your activities in such a way that you are never late for an appointment. By being punctual you are showing respect for the other person’s time.
• Write down things or use your fancy gadget if you are forgetful.
• Plan. Everything except certain things which are best done spontaneously. The menu for the week-end dinner, your ‘thank-you speech’, your vacation, things to do list, up coming important events, meetings, the dress you would wear for that important evening…….It saves you from cutting a sorry face later.
• Do your homework so that you know what you are saying. Rather you have something to say.
• Learn to say I don’t know. Learn to say no.
• Don’t promise things you don’t mean to do.
• Don’t volunteer when you know you can’t.
• If you do take up a task do it religiously and keep others posted of the progress.
Organisze!!! It's never out of style.
