Not long ago, I asked 100 CEOs attending a conference how many of them were currently involved in a significant business transformation. Nearly all of them raised their hands, which was no surprise. According to a study by BCG, 85% of companies have undertaken a transformation during the past decade.
Leaders Focus Too Much on Changing Policies, and Not Enough on Changing Minds
To achieve the outcomes you want, start by thinking about people and culture.
June 25, 2018
hbr staff/jake hinds/unsplash
Summary.
So why is business transformation so difficult to achieve? One reason is the invisible fears and insecurities that keep us locked into behaviors even when we know rationally that they don’t serve us well. Leaders can change processes, policies, seating arrangements, and other external factors, but until they change people’s internal feelings, assumptions, blind spots, and fears, they’ll struggle to make change stick. This kind of transformation should start with the leaders themselves, since its their personalities that often shape corporate culture.