Change is the business workout

Digital transformation is about technology. It’s probably the first mistake enterprises make when they start thinking about digital transformation. No: digital transformation is about change. Let’s illustrate that with an example.

I do regular workouts. Lifting weights, that kind of stuff. Workouts change my body. In a sense you could compare that with the technology: the barbells, the dumbbells, the machines in the gym. These are just enablers, what technology is. The change of my body only happens when I change my mindset first. The first change that needs to happen is my mindset: do I want to change? Or even: do I need to change? The answer is: yes, for the benefits of my health. I need to stay fit. I want to stay fit.

Do I want to get to the gym in the early morning? No, I’d rather stay in bed. I’m heavily resisting, but I know I must. I know what the gains will be. 

That’s where the growth mindset starts. We need that mindset in business too. We need change.

Businesses today are under immense pressure to keep up with the latest technological advances. Digital transformation has become a necessity for organizations looking to stay relevant, competitive, and profitable. But implementing a digital transformation strategy is not just about upgrading technology; it also involves managing the change that comes with it. This is where change management plays a crucial role.

Change management is the process of managing the people-side of change, including the planning, communication, and implementation of changes to an organization’s structure, processes, or technology. It aims to help individuals and teams understand and embrace changes, minimizing resistance and ensuring successful adoption. In the context of digital transformation, change management becomes essential, as it helps to mitigate the risks associated with technology implementation and ensure that the transformation is successful.

So, why is change management crucial in digital transformation?

First, it helps manage resistance to change: Change is never easy, and people often resist it, whether consciously or subconsciously. Just scroll back up and read the analogy of the workout one more time. The introduction of new technology or processes can be disruptive, and employees may feel uncomfortable with the change. Change management helps to identify the sources of resistance and develop strategies to manage them, ensuring that employees understand the reasons for the change and are more willing to embrace it.

Communication is critical during digital transformation, and change management helps to ensure that the right messages are conveyed to the right people at the right time. This can include training sessions, workshops, town hall meetings, and one-on-one coaching. Effective communication is essential in helping employees understand the reasons for the change, its impact, and their role in the process.

Change management helps to plan the change in a way that minimizes disruption, ensuring that employees can continue to perform their roles while the transformation takes place. More important: it will help adoption, continue, improve productivity and the development of better products and services. That’s the ultimate goal: create better services and products for our customers. Our customers are the reason to start the change in the first place.

Change management provides a structured approach to digital transformation, helping organizations to identify the changes that need to be made, plan for their implementation, and monitor progress. This ensures a smooth transition: Digital transformation is a significant change, and change management helps to ensure that the transition is smooth and successful. This includes identifying potential roadblocks, managing risks, and ensuring that everyone involved is aligned and working towards the same goals.

Implementing a digital transformation strategy involves much more than simply upgrading technology. Change management is critical in managing the people-side of change. With effective change management, digital transformation can be successful, providing a significant competitive advantage to the organization.

Want to read more? My latest book ‘Modern Enterprise Architecture’ is all about digital transformation and the change that comes with it. It describes how enterprises are impacted by these changes and, even more important, how it can help enterprises delivering better products and services to their customers.

And: please do reach out in case you want to have a talk about it. Join me in a workout.

That’s an invitation.