You’re a Business Relationship Manager. How can you make sure your organizational skills are top-notch?

1 Define your goals and scope

The first step to being organized is to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you will measure your success. You should define your goals and scope for each relationship you manage, based on the needs and expectations of your stakeholders and your organization's strategy. You should also align your goals and scope with the relevant business units, functions, and processes that support or depend on the relationship. This will help you to avoid confusion, duplication, or conflict of interests.

2 Manage your time and resources

The next step to being organized is to manage your time and resources effectively. You should create a realistic schedule for each relationship you manage, taking into account the frequency, duration, and format of your interactions, as well as the deadlines, milestones, and deliverables. You should also allocate your resources, such as budget, staff, tools, or data, according to the priority and complexity of each relationship. You should monitor and adjust your time and resources as needed, based on the feedback, changes, or issues that arise.

3 Communicate and collaborate

The third step to being organized is to communicate and collaborate with your stakeholders and your organization. You should establish and maintain regular and transparent communication channels with each stakeholder, using the appropriate methods, such as meetings, emails, reports, or dashboards. You should also share and exchange information, ideas, feedback, or best practices with your organization, especially with the business units, functions, and processes that are involved or affected by the relationship. You should foster a culture of trust, respect, and cooperation among all parties.

4 Document and review

The fourth step to being organized is to document and review your work and progress. You should keep track of all the activities, decisions, actions, and outcomes related to each relationship you manage, using the suitable tools, such as templates, checklists, logs, or databases. You should also review your work and progress regularly, using the criteria, metrics, or indicators that you defined for your goals and scope. You should identify and address any gaps, risks, or opportunities for improvement.

5 Learn and improve

The fifth step to being organized is to learn and improve from your experience and feedback. You should seek and provide constructive feedback from and to your stakeholders and your organization, using the methods, such as surveys, interviews, or evaluations. You should also reflect and learn from your successes and failures, using the techniques, such as lessons learned, case studies, or benchmarks. You should apply your learning and feedback to enhance your skills, knowledge, and performance as a BRM.

6 Organize your workspace

The sixth step to being organized is to organize your workspace, both physical and digital. You should keep your workspace clean, tidy, and comfortable, with the necessary equipment, supplies, and furniture. You should also organize your workspace digitally, with the relevant software, applications, and files. You should label, sort, and backup your files, and delete or archive the ones you don't need. You should also secure your workspace, with the appropriate passwords, encryption, or firewalls.