IT’S A FAMILIAR PATTERN: an organization launches a transformation with town halls, posters and slogans, a platoon of consultants, millions of dollars and a “vision.”
Some departments and functions make quick changes – a few might even deliver business impact in the short term – but many employees are exhausted by the changes, and some are fearful. The transformation office is under-equipped to deal with the resistance; leaders begin discussions in hushed tones, asking “where do we go from here?” In this brief article, we discuss the biggest challenges in organizational transformation, offer insights into the five core beliefs held by leaders of thriving transformations, and explain how leaders can use these insights to make lasting performance improvements in their organizations.