Leading a successful Transformation business wide or function specific is a fascinating challenge. I regularly meet with Transformation Leaders who operate in different functions and disciplines to my own and it struck me how much they have in common. I am sure this is no great revelation to Business Leaders that those who regularly lead successful Transformations have characteristics in common.
Finance Transformation Magazine pictured above is full of successful Leaders from many different walks of life from Olympic Champions to the RAF.
However, not all Transformations are successful and very few have an unbroken record of success. This is the reason why you find so many thought pieces focussed on the 'reasons for failure...' You might agree with Sir Alex that you learn more in defeat than from winning? I am never entirely comfortable with that, I know what he was getting at, but surely the objective and the preference is to win.
The very best Transformation Leaders will learn equally in victory as well as defeat, they will just feel differently about it and the ego will play a major part in how much they are prepared to learn. So with that in mind I sat down to consider what are the "7 Habits of Successful Transformation Leaders." based on the people I know and have seen up close 'in action'.
- 1st Rate Appearance: The very best look the part, they walk the walk as they say. You would never be in any doubt that you are dealing with someone who is highly professional and used to commanding respect. Maybe this is the reason why all Football Clubs have their players turned out 'suited and booted' for big games. Look good, feel good, act good?
- They are Prepared: They do their homework, no matter how little time you give them to master a brief or address a problem they will always investigate. They will come armed to any meeting with an overview of the situation. The ones who succeed consistently don't 'wing it'.
- They Speak 2nd: They allow a situation to unfold in front of them not rushing in with their own interpretation of the challenge or its solution. As team members they will always make you feel listened to. There is a difference between taking on the responsibilities of Leadership and respecting the rights of others involved to speak and cultivating this level of patience is a habit. Many a Project was derailed by somebody rushing to prove they must always speak first.
- They Share the Credit: A team won't follow you for long if you hog the limelight. Park the ego when it comes to rewards or awards and share them with the Teams. Preferably let the Teams receive them. As a general rule of thumb 'when a Team requires Turnaround a true Leader stands out in front, when they start to succeed, the Leader stands behind.'
- They Plan Continuously: The best Leaders leave as little as possible to chance. You cannot plan for every eventuality but the more you Plan the less surprised you are. Such Leaders are masters of POAP and know whether their Plan is fine, needs tinkering or a full blown review based on any daily occurrence that comes across their path. They are hard wired to pick up on threats in their environment to their strategic direction of travel.
- They are Predictable: Counter intuitive I know but hear me out. If you succeed in life at anything you have worked out a formula, it may be your formula but it is your formula for success. You have proven it works. Therefore a true Leader is predictable. They did it this way before and they will do it 'this way' again. Just look at Pep Guardiola! they will always deploy their formula, it is an engrained habit.
- They are High Value Inquisitive: Which means they ask a lot of targeted questions. However, the questions they tend to ask are high value questions which seek to determine 2 things. Firstly, does the situation, process, performance represent a threat or secondly an opportunity. Once they establish this like a good surgeon they leave the follow up questions to their team managers.
You may have More Habits to add and feel free to do so below.
Best Regards,
Michael.
PS The Book is 'flying' so if you are off on the 'Hollier's' get your copy before the Airport queues
