Government Needs to Think Like a Start-up

We need a dynamic civil service if we are to thrive as a nation (regardless of politics). Pat McFadden, who oversees the Cabinet Office, has urged “disrupters” to join the civil service in a bid to make government “think a little bit more like a start-up”. This is a monumental challenge – government needs to think like a start-up.

My experience of complex organisations with deep-rooted cultures is that they have developed sophisticated internal systems for repelling new thinking, much in the way our bodies release antibodies to fight off viruses.

To overcome this institutionalised resistance, we need to begin at the top. If we don’t win over the hearts and minds of top management the game is lost before we start. But with leaders genuinely committed to championing innovation and risk-taking we have half a chance.

Next, we must address process and culture together (you cannot change one without the other) using proven tools and systems for creating radical performance improvement.

Five Example Tools to Help Shift Ingrained Culture and Practice

1. Experimentation Zones: Spaces where employees can experiment with new ideas without fear of failure
2. Growth Mindset: Promote a growth mindset – starting at the top – that embraces challenges and sees failure as a learning opportunity.
3. Leadership Empowerment: Give leaders the skills, tools and freedom to take risks, innovate and lead change.
4. Customer-Centricity: build processes and structures based on the needs and preferences of citizens and businesses.
5. Agile Work Practices: Adopt agile methodologies to promote flexibility and rapid response.

What else do you suggest?

#publicsectorchange #culturechange #organisationaltransformation #transformationalleadership #entrepreneurialleadership