How Small Wins Could Save the Government

HM’s Government is increasingly resembling a teenager overwhelmed by the realities of the world. You may have such a child within your own extended family who has retreated to their bedroom and entered a doom loop. Sometimes they are triggered, lash out and blame everyone else for their troubles. In such instances, those of us who work with children will suggest attempting only small, manageable tasks. This way, the teenager can slowly rebuild a sense of agency. We then move on to medium goals before addressing the bigger problems and opportunities of life.

I suggest a similar approach for this Government. It is manifestly unable to cope with the daunting realities of the world: China, the economy, immigration or welfare. Instead it has retreated inside Number 10, lashing out at others (Brexit and Farage) for its woes. In such cases we need to show compassion and give the Government a number of small, closed tasks to revive its sense of self-efficacy. If these can be achieved, we slowly build up the Government’s self-worth by giving it larger, more complicated tasks. Only when these have been ticked off will it have the confidence and ability to tackle the big stuff.

At first sight of the tasks, the Government might shriek, “That is too much” or “It’s not my problem”. The Government will try to retreat back beneath the Number 10 duvet and threaten deadly action like ID cards. Here, we have to remind the Government not to be over-dramatic and to remember that small things can be achieved with a sense of purpose and realistic goal setting. We would use the example of getting a passport – once an excruciatingly slow and complicated procedure, now it’s easy-peasy.

Small Goals for the Government 

Stop cookie pop-ups:

With this one closed task, the Government would be showered with praise from a grateful nation. What an ego boost that would be!

Make it possible to book a driving test: 

At present it is near impossible to book a driving test on the DVLA website. Instead, driving test slots are block-booked by bots or unscrupulous driving instructors and sold on at extortionate rates. The only way for a test to be booked is to wait for the Monday morning slot release at 6am when, if you’re lucky, you might be able to book a driving test eight months in advance at a test centre 60 miles from your home. Imagine the Government’s rising self-esteem gained from grateful 17 year-olds and their irritated parents across the land if this was sorted.

Tidy up high streets:

It’s vital for maungy governments to get a good dose of fresh air. Conducting weekly litter picks, graffiti cleaning sessions and completing a Tidy Britain Project, would improve the vim of the Government no end. 

Cancel the need to book a slot at the tip:

A hangover from lockdowns, up to 150 councils insist people book timed slots before visiting their local dump. Beyond giving a truculent man with a clipboard something to do, the system aggravates everyone else. If the Government used its voice (as we teach teenagers) to tell councils to dump this requirement, it would find itself in receipt of praise from grateful gardeners and DIYers.

Just picture the Government now: it will have a little spring in its step. There might be a wall-chart in Number 10 celebrating past victories: Cookies DONE, Driving Tests DONE, Dumps DONE, Litter: GONE. Having achieved these small goals, the Government will feel itself increasingly capable of tackling trickier issues.

Medium Goals for the Government 

Hip and knee replacements available when needed:

It’s shameful to admit that in 21st Century Britain 800,000 people are hobbling around or stuck at home in need of a knee or hip replacement. These operations are currently classified as elective, but if you’ve ever suffered from ‘complete necrosis of the knee’ joint, as my Dad is currently enduring, there is nothing elective about the replacement he’s been offered in 13 months’ time. Imagine the sense of renewed pride the Government would experience if the NHS were able to deliver operations when required by the patient. 

Speed up roadworks to reduce traffic jams:

Such a joke is it that road works no longer have workers working on them, that the Highways Agency has had to put signs up saying: “If you can’t see us, we may be working elsewhere.” Imagine the confidence of a Government that could instruct Highways England to employ heaps more people and finally finish off the M25 Wisley Junction upgrade as well as all other roadworks.

If these goals were successfully accomplished, the newly invigorated Government could go on to tackle welfare, illegal immigration, China, the national debt, crime and all the rest of it. 

Come on, Government – you can do it, one small task at a time!

Joanna Gray is a writer and confidence coach.