The term "transformation" does not seem to fit the work behind it. The idea sounds good: You have a team effort, carried and supported by leadership, to renew and recreate the company top down and bottom up. You change the coprorate culture, the mindset, and ultimately the results the business delivers. The challenges become easier to take and the people love to work for the company. The reason for this effort? Usually it's a mixture of necessity because of the changing world and because of the strategic planning that involves continuous improvements.
Digitalization, increased sustainability, changing infrastructures, and a new world order are driving forces for transformation initiatives.
The problem with the term transformation is that it makes you believe that we change the entire setup of a business and transform it into something completely new. In fact, the word transformation means to move beyond form.
I must admit, I myself use the term transformation consulting because I believe that in order to get to the results of a renewed, improved and replenished thriving business, you have to apply transformational thinking. But I don't believe that transformation as a term applies to the process itself.
Transformational thinking implies the following aspects:
to analyze potential and resources that remain untapped
to think about challenges and risks as chances and opportunities
to move beyond linear thinking towards a creative, lateral thinking process
to change from a lackful orientation (we need more people) to a resourceful mindset (what resources do we have to our disposal)
to move from assumption-based and habitual behavior towards possibiltiy thinking and a testing mindset
There are psychological principles about how people learn and change - and that is at the core of organizational change. Unless, we apply those known principles, we begin to build unnecessary resistance and obstacles in our way to create and implement a new vision.
In order for your transformation initiatives to progress as smoothly as possible (and we know, we don't live in a perfect world), you want to make sure you implement in your organization transformational thinking. That will lead to new ideas, better approaches and a hightened acceptance of your efforts.
About the author:
Marc Breetzke, M.A., M.A. is the founder of MB Inspirations and Europe's leading strategy expert. He works as a consultant, trainer, coach, speaker, and lecturer all over the world for large, international businesses (e.g. Fortune 500) and leaders. He studied Strategic Communications in Germany and in the United States. Today, he operates from his head-office in Stuttgart, Germany.
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