Being Half Pregnant (or not) and Successful Business Transformations
2021 has begun as 2020 ended - throwing curve balls for many, but one thing that seems to be consistent as a theme is that 2021 will be a year of transformation.
For your organisation this could be around your business model; it could be around your delivery channels; or it could be around repositioning your entire business. Whatever the transformation, being on the front foot is going to be key.
How can you load the dice in your favour to make sure this is successful?
A recent client conversation taught me how useful a reminder of some of the simple drivers can be. Leaders are facing so many challenges at the moment, and talking about leading a transformation is of course so much easier than actually making sure you deliver it well. One of my clients in the legal sector found two hours out, reminding herself of the basics, and thinking them through with respect to her organisation’s transformation needs, invaluable.
SO WHAT ARE THE KEY QUESTIONS?
1. Why? Why do we need to transform in this way? Often answered in very simple terms, but sometimes there is a bit more complexity. Even with the former, it’s important to make sure that you articulate the why in a way that will resonate successfully with your people and key stakeholders. Of course, for many organisations, Covid-19 has made answering this question pretty easy….
2. What’s the destination? The two ‘C’s are king here: Clarity, and Compelling. Make sure the destination is crystal-clear, and articulate it as succinctly as you can. And ensure it’s compelling. Change is hard for many, so you need to bring people with you by appealing to their feelings and emotions, as much as their reason.
3. Where are we now? It’s important to be honest here with yourself, even brutal.
4. What are the key levers? Can you identify a small number of actions, events or ‘must haves’ that will have a disproportionate impact on the chances of success. Doing this enables you to focus your underlying tactics in the areas that really matter.
5. What are the key obstacles? Try not to be scattergun with this; aim to distil down two or three core issues that need to be overcome in order to achieve success.
6. Who do we need to be bringing with us? Shrewdly deploying influence tactics to gain the support of others is key. But have you identified who these people are? Both internally and externally?
AND DON’T FORGET….
Don’t be half pregnant. A phrase shared with me by a good friend with a gift for putting concepts into neat idioms (which is why he is such a great journalist). Essentially, to drive proper transformational change, you need to commit fully.
Make sure you’ve got access to the shop floor. Don’t stay in your ivory tower. Make sure you get out and about, and so gain a true picture of what’s going on at ground level. If you are hearing only positive noises, dig a bit deeper. All change causes issues – why are you not hearing about it? Ensure you have appropriate mechanisms and systems in place to facilitate feedback coming right back up to you from all levels of the organisation.
Remember the 25-50-25 principle: according to leadership expert John C Maxwell, whenever you cast vision and challenge people, typically 25% will support your efforts, 50% will be undecided, and 25% will resist change. Don’t waste time on the bottom 25%; ask the 25% at the top to positively influence the 50%, and give them credibility and a platform to speak.
Good luck. And if you would like any further advice or support, you can contact me here