Elon Musk’s Email Request to Federal Employees: A Common-Sense Approach

Elon Musk’s recent email to federal employees highlights one of the three key areas in information sharing in highly effective organizations: problems, accomplishments, and planned actions. His approach mirrors structured status reporting, focusing on efficiency and accountability.

I learned the importance of this structured approach while working for Warren Buffett in the 1970s at Berkshire Hathaway as an IT contractor. Buffett and his CIO, Mr. Trotter, emphasized clarity in project reporting, ensuring that decision-makers focused on actionable insights rather than unnecessary complexity.

Their method of breaking down complex issues into digestible, results-oriented sections remains an effective strategy today.

1. Problems Identified

1. Bureaucratic Inefficiencies – Slow processes hinder decision-making.

2. Fiscal Waste – Misallocation of taxpayer funds.

3. Transparency Issues – Limited insight into spending and resource use.

2. Accomplishments Recognized

4. Fraud Detection Measures – Some departments have improved oversight.

5. Digital Transformation Efforts – Modernizing operations to increase efficiency.

6. Enhanced Public Reporting – Some agencies improving budget transparency.

3. Planned Actions

7. Streamlining Processes – Cutting redundant procedures.

8. AI-Driven Budget Analysis – Enhancing fiscal oversight.

9. Open Data Initiatives – Increasing public access to financial information.

By focusing on these nine key points, Musk’s approach seeks to improve government efficiency much like an effective CFO refines staff performance—a principle I saw in action firsthand under Buffett’s leadership, along with other highly successful leaders I have worked with over the past 50-plus years.