Commuting to Windsor every day, I spend a lot of time driving my car, or rather stuck in traffic on the M4. Often I can't help but wonder about the physics of traffic flow and driving efficiency. I'm sure that most of you are asking two questions now: what is she going on about and what does this have to do with PR?

While I don't have 'ultimate PR advice' to offer here, my slight obsession with traffic control has led to my much improved work efficiency in the office. That has to be worth sharing... right?

My two 'sacred' words are now constant and speed - I'm sure that everyone has found themselves stuck in a massive queue of traffic for no obvious reason once or twice in their life, or maybe everyday like me. This is mostly caused by people driving at varying speeds. According to a documentary I once watched, if all cars kept the same constant speed with the same gap between each other, this would never happen.

The very same could be said about team work. If all team members work at a different pace, the 'traffic jam' of work flow is inevitable, with some left waiting around while others battle through a backlog of emails and documents on their desks.

Constant speed also helps fuel efficiency. Driving really fast, as much fun as it is, might make you feel you are making great progress, but it won't actually take you very far. Again, this can be translated to the working day. I had a very stressful morning the other day. It was a very productive morning, but by 3pm I was absolutely burnt out. I couldn't help but ask: would I have achieved more if I had worked at slower pace for longer?

I've been testing my theories for a while and it's working out pretty well... the only problem I have now is my ever increasing impatience with the M4. Might have to hijack the motorway boards and educate my fellow drivers next!

Ingrid