Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

When spending someone else’s money, there are essential things and nice to have things. Focus on the essential.

I am not naive. This topic is in the news and involves politics. That can take it from general management consulting to all sorts of hyperbole and worse. Let’s try to consider something.

As an organization spending someone else’s money, there are essential activities and things that are nice to have. It is easy for folks to say, “Let’s delve into this and delve into that.” And, “I read that it is good for morale to have such and other in the workplace.”

The workplace is present to serve the consumers and customers, not those in the workplace. The workplace should not be a dungeon, but it should not be a hobby either. Time away from the workplace is a different place with different goals and allowances. Let’s not confuse the two.

It is quite easy for an organization to drift from its mission. The passage of time and the growth of the organization make drifting more likely and almost assured.

One day, folks wake up and the stuff they are doing and having in the workplace show up on the front page of the newspaper or where ever it is that people go to read embarrassing things about other people. And, oh boy, how embarrassing it appears.

How did we get here in the hallmarks of embarrassment? One day at a time and one little “nice to have” at a time.

Refocus. What is our purpose? What is critical?

On the other hand, a little drifting can lead to new products and services that delight our consumers and customers. Drift, experiment, think, and choose wisely. And never lose sight of the essential. We can do better. If we are spending public funds, we must do better.