Organizational Change Part I
The Art of Successful Transformations
One of the most common topics of interests -
and concern - I’ve been hearing about this year
is business transformation. Almost all leaders I
meet have completed, are in the process or are
planning some kind of organizational change.
As one APAC head recently asked rhetorically:
“Who isn’t reorganizing?” Reasons include the
“new reality” of the Chinese economy, how to
adjust to the new workforce, how to become agile in a VUCA environment or simply the pressure to improve margins/reduce costs. Having
not only observed, but experienced several reorganizations myself - some successful, most of
them not - I want to share some thoughts on the
topic.
It is estimated that 70% of M&As are not achieving projected synergies or are outright failures.
There are plenty of examples where senior
management is introducing organizational reforms for mid-level management to simply
“weather the storm” until a new plan is ready.
Although the scenarios are very different, some
of the root causes of failed restructurings are
the same: lack of communication and support of
key team members across the organization.
Opaqueness and Uncertainty
Business transformation is the process of improving efficiency, effectiveness and stakeholder satisfaction by fundamentally changing
processes, systems, technologies and people.
And it won’t happen unless that fourth element
is fully engaged. However, moving into new territory, changing how the organization conducts
its business, how people interact, can be very
stressful for all parties involved. The challenge
is exacerbated by uncertainty caused by staff
feeling uninformed and left out. Leaders often
focus on strategic and financial plans and underestimate the importance of understanding
the complexity of their organization’s culture
and people. The communication with the staff
is often very process driven instead of focusing
on the benefits for the people involved. Furthermore, frequently there is information overflow, shared too late in the process, when the
rumor mill has been turning and churning, resulting in an almost paralyzed organization.
Once the dust settles, people are even further
demotivated by not perceiving themselves to
be ready and supported for their role in the
new organization.
The What, Why and How
So what needs to be done? The successful transformations I observed have a few things in common: they focus on a very clear and simple message to stakeholders; they are communicated well;
and they consider the impact and needs of the individuals involved. This process includes:
Communicate Strategy
Plan communication timeline
and agenda
- Tell big picture, be transparent, get buy-in
- Show the light at the end of the tunnel, offer support
- Break down complex information and time communication of messages
Strengthen Team
Bring key people at different
levels on board
- Identify key stakeholders and turn gatekeepers into sponsors and supports
- Communicate early with key stakeholders before addressing the entire organization
- Address main concerns of key stakeholders by fine-tune message.
Provide Support
Understand which support needs
to be provided
- Delegate implementation of change to key stakeholders after their buy-in
- Offer right support to make them successfull
- Identify which support needs to be provided by internal vs. external resources
Uniqueness in China
While many of the organizational change challenges are global, China exhibits a few unique aspects. Due to the meteoritic rise of the economy and the sheer size of the domestic market, many
professionals have been riding the wave from one promotion to another, never having to leave the
country or experience a downturn. The lack of experience in dealing with market contractions and
adjustments leave these professionals exposed in times of organizational change. In short, chances
are that many mid-level managers are ill-equipped to handle big changes. It is therefore senior management’s responsibility to provide appropriate support.
Final Words
Many roads can lead to success in times of change. However, planning and involving key people
early on, aligning on vision and bringing the staff on board for the new journey ahead will be crucial
for success, no matter how a management team accomplishes that. Even with the best planning,
communicating the vision, building the team and providing the right support is often more art than
science. My next article will focus on successful communication strategies.
Do you agree or disagree with the author? Please let us know your opinion or share your experiences.