futurehub

While I was preparing for a 1-day workshop on selfleadership I was (time and again) reflecting about the right instruments for self organization. Obviously there is a trend back to paper when it comes to quick and easy ways of planning, jotting down notes, or scibbling strange ideas. The resurrection of personal organizers (e.g., by filofax) or the variety of Moleskine notebooks (you can personalize those, too) and their lookalikes are clear signs we could watch for years now.
How is the typical business day of leaders and “leading people”, such as freelancers, artists, or consultants? Where do they actually work - and how? Sitting in a BALZAC coffee shop in Hamburg and watching the scenery I saw this prototypical bicyclist:

For sure she was not carrying a large notebook computer in her briefcase - I bet she is using a personal organizer… Have a look at these folding bikes as well in WIRED, Youtube, or FAST COMPANY.
Of course, this combination of tools is not a new phenomenon - in point of fact it gets more and more common, even in smaller cities.
What keeps me busy is the question under which circumstances and with which tools these target groups can actually improve their selfleadership. For analyzing their habits, for the recognition of personal patterns of behaviour, and for keeping track of their vision and mission they might need a highly individualized set of methods and tools. For sure, this has to be a combination of those instruments they already use - such as BlackBerries or iPhones, small computers, paper notebooks, pieces of paper, etc. - blended is such a way that it not only supports their output but adds to their appearance/looks, too…