Organisational Skills

Organisational Skills

Organisational skills are an essential aspect of developing into a senior clinician. Training as a doctor is not just about the clinical development but also about learning the core skills that will form the foundation to work in a sustainable and successful way in senior roles. People will have a different approach depending on their speciality, personality, what’s happening in their personal life and may draw on skills learnt from studying or from life outside medicine, which can aid organisation and improve resilience in what is a demanding and tough job. As roles evolve through the training journey, it may be helpful to consider different ways to develop these skills.

This PowerPoint presentation [PPTX], written by Dr Julie Reid, GP TPD may provide a useful summary of key aspects to consider as a resident doctor in training and/or trainer when discussing and reviewing organisational skills.

Utilising technology

It can help to utilise technology to aid planning, recording, arranging and organising ideas. This is also an evolving area, with new apps and websites being developed. Often these apps may have come from a project management background. In medicine this is an area that isn’t taught or developed formally but could be an area that resident doctors in training explore to find what suits them best.

You might like having a programme on your desktop and/or using an app “on the go”. You might find useful recommendations from peers, social media, educational websites. Different programs will suit different people for different reasons.

Some common software apps to consider are listed below:

It’s useful to take note of technology available within the NHS IT set up for free. As an example, these apps are available with NHS log ins. They might aid organisation of work, as well as life events and responsibilities. Information on how to use available at M365 Skills hub

Mind Mapping Tools

Mind mapping is a core study tool used at different stages throughout education. It can also be used more broadly to help reflect and organise thoughts relating to projects, ongoing work such as portfolio, as well.

There are a range of apps and online websites that can be used to create mind map. You might find recommendation for from peers for up-to-date apps/websites. There is also a wealth of information from a range of university or educational websites that cover study suggestions for higher learners.

There is also further information on organisation linked to studying to professional exams on our Exam support webpage.

Some links to get started with and explanations on how to use:

Suggested Resources

(Free unless otherwise stated)

Time management

The webpage is about managing time during medical training. It highlights how busy and overwhelming the workload can get as responsibilities grow. It offers advice on staying organised.

The Pomodoro Technique

A popular time management method that can be helpful for doctors in training, tackling large tasks like studying for exams, completing paperwork, or preparing presentations. This approach helps maintain focus, prevent burnout, and make big tasks feel more manageable.

Workload and time management Online course

This 1-hour module looks at how you currently manage your time and workload, helping you scrutinise your approach to time, address your challenges and equipping you with tools to give you more control and improve your effectiveness.

* To access courses on BMJ Learning, you generally need to be a registered member and log in with BMA credentials

 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

This book, by S Covey is useful for doctors in training. Its key principles, like being proactive, prioritising tasks, communicating effectively, and focusing on continuous growth, can help with managing the demands of medical training, improving time management, and enhancing personal and professional development.

This page was last updated on: 05.11.2025 at 12.11