What I learnt from my son recently

My 14-year-old son thinks everything has a hack.

Better grades? Google AI.

Learning guitar? 15 min app.

Getting fit? 10 min HIIT sessions (a lovely oxymoron).

Social media convinced him that hard work isn't necessary and the only people who do it are the suckers who can't find a better (easier) way.

Not to worry I thought...he's only 14.  When he's grown up he'll think differently.

But then I thought about my field of work...25 years improving public services.

And every few years? A shiny new 'ology promising to solve whatever the challenge of the day is:

- PSAs and delivery units

- Missions and mission delivery units 

- Waterfall, Agile, Scaled Agile

- Centralise, devolve, arms-length, in-house

- User-led, citizen-led, service-led

Thinking everything has a hack isn't limited to teenagers on social media.

Here's the truth everyone knows...but no-one wants to draw attention to:

Real change is messy.

It doesn't move in straight lines.

It trips over its own feet constantly.

Improving anything significant is like herding cats.

The hack isn't coming.

The work is the work.

It's not all doom and gloom.  Far from it.  'Ologies have their place.  But they are only one ingredient.  Without all the messy, hard and very human work change won't happen. 

I love working with clients to find the blend of ingredients that works for them. 

Through research, posts and reposts I am going to be exploring this topic on my website www.theworkisthework.com and on LinkedIn @ www.linkedin.com/in/david-white-publicservices

Follow along if you're interested.

David White

Consultant. Business Designer. Author.

www.theworkisthework.com