3 Key Strategies to a Successful Transformation

A transformation is a fundamental shift in an organization’s capabilities and identity so that it can deliver an economic or social impact that it couldn’t master before. Attempting to take your organization apart and put it back together in a new, functional way is a high risk endeavor that can yield highly beneficial results if done correctly. Successful transformations are relatively rare, but they do exist. Here are three key strategies to ensure your company’s transformation is a success.

1. Make the transformation meaningful and personal

In order to implement a successful transformation it is imperative to have a compelling vision that is fully internalized by every member in your organization. Successful leaders often utilize personal life experiences to show their determination to overcome obstacles and to increase their team’s belief in the vision. It is also vital to directly engage employees.This increases the likelihood that every individual understands the vision and is motivated to make decisions and complete tasks in line with the company’s new visions.

2. Take fewer, but bigger steps

While short term goals can help motivate the team to push forward, too many can drag and derail the program. A successful transformation anticipates how to overcome bigger-picture barriers and how to achieve solutions that build sustainable advantage in order to build momentum. This means the focus must be on developing a handful of manageable, large initiatives to drive impact.

3. Invest in People

People are the catalysts of successful transformation, but can also be the biggest obstacle. Common reasons for failure during transformation are lack of employee communication, engagement, and alignment with the new goals. Organizations need to invest in increasing employee job satisfaction and providing proper communication and training so employees are equipped to make the transformation a successful one.