Positive Work Culture Fosters Growth

Dr. Ticarol Smith, Deputy Chief Information Officer, State of Illinois

Dr. Ticarol Smith, Deputy Chief Information Officer, State of Illinois

As the Deputy Chief Information Officer at the State of Illinois, Dr. Ticarol Smith is the middleman between the Department of Aging and the Department of Innovation and Technology. She oversees about five developers who work on various applications for the Department of Aging. Dr. Smith also works on innovative technologies to streamline operations across the department and ensure security posture.

In the government sector, what are the major pain points when it comes to leadership development?

Leadership in itself can be a struggle with the millennials coming into the workplace, and agencies have different mindsets of leaders that don’t like to change. The culture of the industry is at a standstill, making it difficult to lead people without any cultural change. COVID has initiated the cultural shift that the new generation expects. Government agencies have allowed more flexibility with working from home and accommodating schedules.

“We have to be more flexible, understanding, and cooperative in the needs of our employees, as one size doesn’t fit all situations”

It would be beneficial for state government leaders to take courses on leading technologies to lead better in today’s environment, especially when mental illness is a hot priority among individuals. Leaders must be compassionate and driven by the people instead of business. Previously, the culture in the marketplace was always doing what was necessary for the company. But, today, leaders need to shift their focus on doing what is essential for the people that help fuel the business. People are the powerhouse that supports organizations to be successful. Leaders need to provide the workforce with a culture that allows them to maintain a work-life balance.

With these disruptions, how do you envision the future of the government space?

If organizations don’t take a stance in taking care of their employees, they will find themselves struggling to get employees to work, which can be havoc. Leaders in the government sector have to take the needs of people more seriously as employees these days are not staying at companies for long years anymore. The agencies would be doing well if they could employ someone for more than a year in the same position without them getting tired or not being motivated to stay. They have to find perks to help employees want to remain within the organization and help them grow in areas where they’re weak while promoting mental and physical health.

What would be your piece of advice for your fellow peers and leaders?

All leaders need to be flexible as they lead and know that every employee has a unique need. We shouldn’t try to fit everything under a blanket statement or a blanket movement. We have to be more flexible, understanding, and cooperative in the needs of our employees, as one size doesn’t fit all situations.