I live and work in the state of California. With the latest round of budget cuts and an additional 20 billion dollar shortfall almost everything in the state is on the chopping block. Yet one program is getting MORE funding. It’s called CALPADS and it has been an utter failure. The state contracted with IBM to create this software monstrosity to track each and every one of our students through their K-12 experience.
The software is so complicated, overarching, and slow, that they had to shut the program down in February for two months to tune up its performance. The initial deadline for the first round of data is now over six months behind, and things are not looking much better for the future.
They are now adding more complexity, more bureaucracy, and more rules to try and make it all work. As someone who has to work with the system on a daily basis, I’ve become more and more frustrated with the whole process.
My inspiration level is at an all time low.
Michael Hyatt has a great post today, about what it takes to be an inspiring leader. He lists four ways that leaders can keep their employees inspired on their jobs. I think the State of California needs to look at this list. The state needs to…
- Connect people to the larger story.
- Remind people why they matter.
- Resist creating new policies.
- Set the pace for what you expect in others.
Why is it that the government and so many old school companies insist on creating more policies, hiring more middle level bureaucrats, and isolating themselves from the people doing the work. Take a look at your job…
- Are you just a number where you work, or does someone actually care about what you do?
- Does your company policy manual weigh over five pounds?
- Has someone painted a vision for you about where your company is going… or do they just hand you another work order?
Ask yourself… Why do people want to work for a company like Apple or Google?
Could it have something to do with the larger story?
Question: Are you inspired on your job? If so, what makes it inspiring?
