Dear Bureaucrat,
It’s me, your Public Affairs Officer. I know you don’t understand my role in this organization yet, but you will.
What I’m about to say is going to make you uncomfortable. I understand; that’s natural for someone like you. For years, our risk-averse system has conditioned you to avoid change, shift decision-making, and create yellow lights.
Your instinct is to slow me down.
Fortunately for our organization and culture, I speed up at yellow lights.
And you’re coming with me.
Let me start with why. I’m going to do something important for our organization. I have a plan. I have the support of our senior leaders. I’m going to receive all necessary resources and approvals to make this happen. In the end, I am going to complete this initiative and it is going to be effective.
Here’s where you come in: you are my path of least resistance to mission accomplishment.
Maybe you’re the budget admin who needs to click a button on our funding request. Maybe you’re the help desk worker who can get me the right software. Maybe you’re an operations officer and you need to change up the way you engage some of our key partners. Maybe you’re a member of my own Public Affairs team, with the skills and time necessary.
Whatever it is, you are a badge-wearing member of this organization, and to the extent I need you to be, you’re going to be part of the solution.
I want you to understand, and support, this initiative. I truly do, because we’re doing this for you, and for all our members, and for America. But whether or not you care, or buy in to this project, or get it … it’s going to happen.
You could take the time to argue with me. Send me your job description. Dig up doctrine and regulations. Tell me to speak with your boss. Tell me what your work hours are.
But, you’d only end up losing precious time and credibility. When this is all behind us, you will have done your part to support this command-wide initiative.
Take a minute, and use your brain. Knowing this is something you’re going to end up doing either way, don’t you think we should just get started now?
I’m your Public Affairs Officer. I always get the things I ask for, because I only ask for the things I need. Furthermore, I only ask for things I know I can get.
Are you ready?
(Photo by Al Bright, DVIDS)
