April 7, 2024
By Annabel Hooton
At a recent event hosted by Norman Broadbent Plc, over 40 HR and L&D leaders, alongside senior leaders at the helm of guiding transformational shifts, convened for a dinner seminar led by Annabel Hooton, Director of our HR Practice.
In an era where change is the only constant, this event proved pivotal for our guests. Our brilliant speaker, Tim Munden, award winning former Chief Learning Officer at Unilever and Founder of Kairon, shared his invaluable insights into the essence of steering large-scale organisational transformations by placing a keen focus on the human element – the bedrock of sustainable change.
The Context of Transformation
The pace of disruption is not just fast but accelerating, pushing leaders to undertake profound organisational shifts. Data from PwC’s 27th Annual Global CEO Survey indicates a growing concern among CEOs regarding the sustainability of their companies, with 45% doubting their firm's viability over the next decade. Moreover, the survey highlighted a significant perception of inefficiency, with leaders believing that 40% of the time spent on routine tasks could be optimised.
Despite the urgency to transform, the journey is fraught with challenges, and historical data reveals a stark reality: a substantial majority of transformation initiatives falter. This sentiment echoes through time, with Professor John Kotter highlighting over 25 years ago that 70% of corporate transformation efforts are doomed to fail. This assertion has since been backed by more recent analyses in 2021 from Copperfield Advisory (Copperfield), Insider, and Revolution Insights Group (RIG), announcing a 78% rate of failure, all pointing to a success rate that desperately needs improvement.
The Emotional Fabric of Transformation
At the heart of successful change lies the emotional engagement and inspiration of the workforce. Research by Andrew White and colleagues in Harvard Business Review in May 2023 underscores this, showing that successful transformations are marked by higher levels of inspiration and emotional support among employees.
The event emphasised the importance of leaders in navigating this emotional journey, advocating for a paradigm where leaders are not just orchestrators but active participants in the transformation, empathetically engaging with their teams and fostering a culture of shared experiences and mutual growth.
A Blueprint for Success
Insights shared during the event helped to provide a strategic framework for effective transformation, emphasising the need for a purpose-driven approach, participatory design, and a robust leadership commitment to both engagement and execution. The idea of 'transformability' as a critical organisational competency for the 21st century was highlighted, with an emphasis on inclusive engagement, purpose activation, and the cultivation of a growth mindset.
Feedback from attendees echoed a strong consensus on the need to amplify leadership engagement, prioritise a people-centric approach, and enhance mechanisms for measurement and feedback. Storytelling, vulnerability, purpose articulation, and a philosophy of co-creation with employees were identified as key levers for cultivating a transformative culture that is both resilient and adaptive.
Change Is Done by People, Not to People
Tim Munden not only illuminated the challenges and strategies of organisational transformation but also galvanized a community of leaders to rethink and reframe their approach.
As organisations navigate the tumultuous waters of change, the insights and strategies shared at the event served as a guide for our guests towards a more inclusive, sustainable, and successful organisational future; a future where transformation is not just endured but embraced, with humanity at its core.