Week 7: full spectrum
I’m working at GovTech Barbados, where we’re helping them build alpha.gov.bb, the organisation to deliver it, and the capability within that organisation to sustain it.
This week went like this.
I spent part of the week on product manager recruitment, and a large part of it coaching on building a roadmap. I made a call not to push for too many changes just before the roadmap was presented. That turned out to be more about being kind than being effective. But the CEO skilfully turned it into a clear vision for using forms as a Trojan horse for deeper transformation. Leaving me sitting at my desk shouting, “He gets it!”
I’ve come to think of our work as full spectrum. I’m sure someone else would describe this better, but what I mean is that sometimes you just do the thing, because it’s easier to show than tell. And other times, you nudge and coach to course-correct.
This week epitomised that. After waiting and trying to coax the roadmap into action and in the right direction, and after chatting to a Public Digital colleague, I just built the roadmap. It’s a rough first draft. I see this as a last resort. I’m proud of this roadmap and the way it frames the work GovTech has done and will do. But doing the work for them, or to them, is a missed opportunity for growth in the team. This engagement is about building capability. Now they have the people, we need to help them grow. That’s just a reminder to myself.
There won’t be a weeknote next week, as I’m having the week off. I have two small people coming skiing with me. It’s the first time I’ve been left alone with my niece (9) and nephew (11), and quite frankly, I’m out of my depth. I managed to get them successfully from Gatwick, via Geneva, home to France. It’s been a lot. The trust my family has in me is obviously low, as evidenced by the “how are you doing?” texts. I’m writing this at 11pm on a Friday night after just getting them to bed, and editing it on Monday after dropping them at ski school. I have a newfound respect for parents!
I hope you all have a great week.