Business Transformation
Breakthroughs often begin by thinking differently about the company’s mission. Pages Jaune, the French Yellow Pages, was losing business as paper books became less and less relevant. The CEO led the effort to re-conceptualize the business as one that connects small businesses with local customers, which led to new products and services, such as mobile apps and Web pages for its member companies.
We have all used the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies as a metaphor for this form of breakthrough thinking. Are you focused on speeding up the caterpillar’s process? Or are you envisioning that totally new butterfly?
The world and most younger consumers all think digital and mobile. Is that the way you are thinking? Is that the focus of your strategy? Does your leadership have strong capabilities in this area?
As digital executives, we need the courage to lead a digital transformation and we need the wisdom to listen to our customers. This is the age of the customer. The customer is in control. For the customer, you are who they see and connect with digitally. If you are not digital, you are increasingly become irrelevant for most customers. That may be painful to hear but it is reality. There is good news. You can transform your business. In the age of the customer, business is digital.
In a world where technology is empowering customers like never before, you can help them discover your company, explore who you are, buy from you and engage with your brand and products. It is clear that the speed in which consumers are embracing this world is one of a dizzying pace. It is easy to feel like you are woefully behind. We all feel like we are struggling to keep up with the pace of change.
As digital executives, we must lead our companies into this new world. We can’t delay. We must have a sense of urgency. We must transform, not evolve. We can’t afford to be the dinosaur.
We must embrace the challenge of engaging the digital customer. Their experience of us is the only thing that will matter to us in the long term. We must drive agility. A slow pace will kill us. We also must drive efficiency through digital operational excellence.
This is a clearly a challenge. It is a tall order. It is hard stuff to be sure. Rest assured there is help to make this journey.
The Bottom Line: Digital Darwinism Is Unkind To Those Who Wait – Disruption is waiting around the corner. Speed is of essence. Delay is not useful. Now is the time to have a sound, effective and speedy digital strategy. Transformation is essential. Read more here …
Transformational leadership is needed and it is needed now – Leadership in the digital transformation world is purposeful in its approach to creating a long term sustainable change. Change efforts will be designed in a top-down approach in some cases. And they will be constantly refined from the bottom-up. Employees are not expected to conform as much as they are expected to be involved and engaged. The communication approach of digital executives is more like a campaign rather than a carefully refined command and control approach. Change activities are more likely to be a refine and reinforce approach. Read more here …
Do you have an innovators heart for your company mission? Where is the sense of urgency? – There is a gap that is growing in your company. It is the gap between the connected customer, their expectations and the programs, products and services you are offering. 80% of the U. S. adult population uses the internet. Most of them have smart phones or will soon. Most of your customers are constantly connected from the time they wake up to the time they go to sleep. As companies, our reality is a digital world. And so do you have a sense of urgency to bridge the gap? What does it take to compete for the hearts of your connected customers? Do you have a plan? Is that plan funded? Read more here …
Do I have enough courage to be a digital executive? – We live in a digital world. Our business is essentially “eBusiness”. If not so much today, then surely soon. The alternative is probably to be out of business. Some great questions to think of:
- Can I be shrewd enough as a business leader?
- Am I digitally savy?
- How competent am I technically?
- Am I ready to be a transformational leader?
More than all of these things, we need courage. The road isn’t always easy. We have a vision and can marshal the resources. Can we be bold enough to see it through to the end? Read more here …
“Companies who are not thinking hard – across the executive suite – about how they will position themselves in the digital landscape may find themselves woefully unprepared for the next ten years.” ~Lindsey Anderson – Many of us face an interesting question. Who will lead the digital charge in our company? Why is that important? Read more here …
How to be ready for digital disruption and the rough road ahead – A central question to answer as a digital executive is “Is my company ready to be disrupted?” Critical to this question is the premise that you are going to be disrupted fairly radically if you don’t get ready. Do you personally believe a “radical change” is happening now? Of course, if you don’t believe that, no need to ask the question. Read more here …
Digital transformation is turning every business into a tech business – Disruption is here or at least on the horizon. The cost to start up and create new models of business have come way down. Some aspect of your business that should be digital right now or soon needs to be transformed. Maybe it is your whole business model. Trust that someone else out there is already doing it or will be soon. Now is the time. Today is the day. Embracing digital transformation is a key initiative for every executive. Customers get to decide. They are in control. Are they happy or about to jump ship? Read more here …
