Turnaround and Change Management: Do Not Waste a Good Crisis
I’ve been part of several turnarounds and have led a few in my short career. One thing that I’ve learned is this: one cannot underestimate the people-side of a turnaround. In fact, it’s very likely that your turnaround will fail, if your people aren’t with you.
I’ve been part of several turnarounds and have led a few in my short career. One thing that I’ve learned is this: one cannot underestimate the people-side of a turnaround. In fact, it’s very likely that your turnaround will fail, if your people aren’t with you.
Why Transformation Efforts Fail
Transformation or Change efforts sometimes fail. In fact, the numbers are staggering – most of them fail. While the root cause is wide and varied, there are general themes or characteristics that are important to keep in mind in your own transformation efforts. Think of these as symptoms also — that a failure is around the corner if you see these characteristics creeping-up or, better yet, you can course-correct if there’s still time.
Transformation or Change efforts sometimes fail. In fact, the numbers are staggering – most of them fail. While the root cause is wide and varied, there are general themes or characteristics that are important to keep in mind in your own transformation efforts. Think of these as symptoms also — that a failure is around the corner if you see these characteristics creeping-up or, better yet, you can course-correct if there’s still time.
A Transformation Story
We all love stories. Stories have characters that we relate to or hate, there’s drama, heroes and villains, and the best stories stir the emotion. The same goes for companies and their stories – all companies have a story. Most stories are in-process still, whereas some have ended, such as the story of Enron. What is your story? If your company is amidst a transformation or a turnaround, what does that story look like? What chapter are you in?
We all love stories. Stories have characters that we relate to or hate, there’s drama, heroes and villains, and the best stories stir the emotion. The same goes for companies and their stories – all companies have a story. Most stories are in-process still, whereas some have ended, such as the story of Enron. What is your story? If your company is amidst a transformation or a turnaround, what does that story look like? What chapter are you in?
Shining Metal Pointing Direction
Hoshin Kanri is a management tool used at Toyota to align business strategy and mobilize the entire organization toward the business strategy. Hoshin Kanri means “Shining Metal, Pointing Direction” or “Directional Needle”. In other words, Hoshin Kanri is a North Star or a Compass.
Hoshin Kanri is a management tool used at Toyota to align business strategy and mobilize the entire organization toward the business strategy. Hoshin Kanri means “Shining Metal, Pointing Direction” or “Directional Needle”. In other words, Hoshin Kanri is a North Star or a Compass.
Complacency, Urgency, and Change
John Kotter makes a good case that urgency is the key ingredient in any organizational transformation. Conversely, the lower the urgency, the higher the likelihood that the firm will collapse or fail or not transform in a way that will enable it to win in a changing marketplace. Kotter does something else that is interesting: he defines True Sense of Urgency, Complacency, and False Sense of Urgency. This was very instructive.
John Kotter makes a good case that urgency is the key ingredient in any organizational transformation. Conversely, the lower the urgency, the higher the likelihood that the firm will collapse or fail or not transform in a way that will enable it to win in a changing marketplace. Kotter does something else that is interesting: he defines True Sense of Urgency, Complacency, and False Sense of Urgency. This was very instructive.
Extraordinary Response
Often, our best moments are during times of trial. Indeed, what we remember most and what is most inspiring are not the scores of naysayers that exclaim “it’s dark, it’s dark” to describe the gloom that is all around us, but the humble, smug, and steady person that lights a candle so that others can see.
Neal Maxwell said this best:
Often, our best moments are during times of trial. Indeed, what we remember most and what is most inspiring are not the scores of naysayers that exclaim “it’s dark, it’s dark” to describe the gloom that is all around us, but the humble, smug, and steady person that lights a candle so that others can see.
Neal Maxwell said this best:
