Beyond Transformation: Evolutionary Agility

Stop trying to "Transform" your organization. It's not the correct long term cure for your organizational pains.

It simply sets the wrong mindset for folks, as transformations are inherently viewed as a "one and done" approach, which is very rarely the case. In addition, it often implies a sudden, all-encompassing change that can lead to resistance, confusion,

and a lack of sustainable improvements.

We've certainly seen it and sure there are now many examples/case studies highlighting where rigid transformations have unfortunately led to a "cargo cult" mentality, where the practices are simply adopted without understanding the underlying principles.

So if merely attempting a transformation is misguided then what can we do instead? I'd like to suggest that a more nuanced approach of learning and evolving toward excellence over time is far more beneficial. 

Remember the overarching goals of shifting to be a more "agile" organization is to increase our speed to market and improve our responsiveness to change. Fundamentally we need to instill the better mindset within folks that we are focused on continuous improvement, adaptability, and team collaboration, rather than just a adopting a set of practices, frameworks or tools. We all know that that treating things as a checklist or a one-time project undermines its potential to drive genuine change.

By embracing an evolutionary mindset we allow for the gradual adoption of better practices, tailored to the organization's unique context and challenges. There are also some intrinsic benefits of this approach, such as increased buy-in from team members, better alignment with organizational culture, and the ability to adapt the practices over time.

Without hopefully sounding to cliche about it, be "evolutionary" with your evolution. Or perhaps intentionally being cliche about it, be "agile" with your agile adoption. Start with small, manageable changes, fostering a culture of learning and experimentation, and involve the teams in the process of shaping the actual practices. It also can't be understated, but the importance of leadership buying in and harboring an environment where better practices can evolve organically is crucial. To borrow an adapted quote from the Dune books/movies...

"I must not fear. Fear is the change killer."

Changing how we work is hard. Always has been and always will be. Especially when it relates to us humans being involved. 

However, we've learned through experience that evolving better practices over time is more effective and sustainable than attempting a forced transformation. We'll be far more successful if we can help our organizations adopt a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability in the journey towards becoming better than we are now.