Successfully managing transformation is a challenge in times of constant change. Companies currently have to make many adjustments at the same time. Many different areas of the company are affected by change at the same time. As a rule, change causes stress, especially when several transformation processes have to be managed at the same time. In the latest blog article, I will show you how you can use all the intelligence in your company by integrating many contributors and use this knowledge and expertise to successfully shape the different areas and phases of the transformation. In doing so, you can keep an eye on the stressors in order to counter them in a targeted and timely manner.

What does successful transformation mean today?

Transformation is a process of change that is associated with challenges, adjustments and new opportunities. It can require a fundamental realignment and can go through a series of phases before the desired goals are achieved.

Up to now, transformation processes have often affected a defined area in your company, individual departments, selected processes or defined projects.

Transformation today tends to be multidimensional.

Successfully shaping transformation today means having an agile organization that can react permanently and quickly to change. Change within an organization can encompass strategic, cultural and structural changes. Organizational transformation may be necessary to respond to changing market conditions, improve competitiveness or integrate new technologies.

At the digital level, transformation is successful when companies succeed in integrating digital technologies in all relevant areas of the organization in order to improve business processes, promote innovation, optimize customer experiences and achieve competitive advantages. Artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and the Internet of Things are examples of digital transformation.

Transformation is also taking place at a social level. The profound change in the social, cultural or political structures of a society is currently having a particularly strong impact on the labour market, as baby boomers are retiring from the workforce, young, upcoming generations are characterized by different values with regard to their working lives and there is sometimes a severe lack of expertise (shortage of skilled workers).

What toolkit do you need to successfully shape the current multidimensional transformation processes?

Successfully shaping 3 challenging areas of transformation to remain fit for the future

Keeping an eye on technological change, social change and the corresponding organizational challenges at the same time makes successful transformation difficult, as change causes stress for many people and multidimensional changes are difficult to keep track of. There is no clear end in sight.

So even if you in management know what strategic goals you are pursuing, you must remain permanently open to change and be careful not to overburden your team or take them along on the transformation journey.

Successfully implementing the transformation on several dimensions requires opportunities for participation, a safe space to enable communication on many levels and between all those involved and also to develop change skills that are useful in the current VUCA world.

So what do you need to successfully implement transformation?

Nurture your corporate culture. In times of permanent change, you need a culture that promotes transformation. For active change, you need employees who are open to innovation and change. The best way to achieve this is for your employees to be actively involved in shaping change processes. Employees who feel understood and listened to and whose suggestions and ideas are taken seriously are more open to ongoing transformation processes and support them. Create open incentives and reward systems for employees who contribute new ideas, develop innovative solutions and contribute to the successful implementation of changes.

Changes in transformation processes cause stress

Your employees need a supportive working environment for a successful transformation.  Especially when it comes to the integration or new introduction of digital tools or AI applications in the company, your team’s adaptability and continuous willingness to learn are crucial prerequisites for a successful transformation. Invest in training, workshops and development opportunities to ensure that employees have the skills and knowledge to deal with change and drive innovation. For a sustainable transformation, however, it is not only technical knowledge that is crucial, but also skills that support employees in dealing with challenging situations and successfully mastering the stress of change.

Change means that work processes in the company change, but our brains also have to adapt to the new circumstances. Adaptation requires considerably more energy than routines and familiar processes. Our brain has to leave the energy-saving neuronal highways in order to relearn, refocus and create new neuronal networks. For a successful transformation, you therefore also need to train your ability to deal with stressors that can cope with change processes and the brain’s associated adaptive performance.

Communication is crucial for a successful transformation

Promote a culture of open communication. (This works particularly well if you promote an anonymous and appreciative exchange). “What one person can’t do, many can”. Each of your employees has already successfully mastered change and learned which individual resources he or she can use to successfully master transformation. If you enable your employees to share their fears and concerns about the current transformation on an equal footing, you pick up all employees where they are at the moment and enable communication between all employees in a spirit of solidarity. Employees are empowered to develop resources and strengths for good cooperation and to exchange ideas in a trusting (anonymized) environment and thus support each other. You gain an open and transparent insight into which open questions and challenges are currently important for your team and can respond to them quickly.

Finally, you need a corresponding transfer of knowledge for the social level in order to successfully manage the transformation. Employees who will be retiring in the foreseeable future, newcomers, career changers and specialists from different areas need to speak the same language so that comprehensive knowledge management can succeed and a brain drain can be prevented. In addition to good moderation by resistant managers, this requires the development of a corresponding culture of trust. Trust and relationships can only develop if everyone communicates on an equal footing and a correspondingly safe environment exists. You can only create security if those involved do not have to expect any disadvantages when they share their knowledge. The knowledge of your top performers is your decisive competitive advantage.

Conclusion:

In this blog article, I have shown you that current transformation processes are multidimensional. So you not only need industry knowledge and the right toolkit, but above all soft skills and open communication for a successful transformation. First and foremost, you need to give your employees the opportunity to participate in the transformation and also create the necessary communication spaces to recognize and address concerns and fears at an early stage. Successful transformation can only be achieved if your employees feel confident to share their knowledge and actively drive innovation.