1. Moving too slowly
Speed doesn’t kill; slowness kills. The leadership team of any organization needs to be ready to move quickly. It is their responsibility to spearhead the transformation quickly and set the pace for the rest of the organization. For this reason, avoid the mistake of moving too slowly.
2. Not thinking small enough
Thinking big can have bad consequences. Instead, seek to achieve small but fast successes. Small but fast successes are better than complicated, time-consuming goals. This sets a tone of success and confidence within the organization, and also produces quick results for stakeholders.
3. Not being courageous
Cowering the in corner will not help anyone. Have the courage to take calculated risks and do not be paralyzed by indecision. Having the courage to take calculated risks leads to progress in your digital transformation journey.
4. Not giving your team permission to fail
An all-or-nothing attitude towards success sets up your team for failure. An all-or-nothing attitude towards success can prevent your team from taking chances and thus making no progress at all. Give your team permission to fail. This enables your team to learn, grow, and be successful.
5. Not being “all in”
You cannot win by quitting. Instead, persevere when the going gets tough. Once you have set your course, commit to not turning back. If you and your team fully commit to stick it out and work together, the confidence level will increase and bigger challenges can be conquered.
6. Not taking an outside-in view of your organization before implementing change
Thinking about the needs of your organization, ahead of the needs of the organizational stakeholders, is a fast path to failure. In your digital transformation journey, think first about serving and enabling stakeholders.
7. Not focusing on outcomes
A ship without a compass will end up on the rocks– sooner rather than later. Ensure that your leadership team sets clear goals. Then, determine how those goals will be achieved and how success will be measured.
8. Not emphasizing technology enablement
Technology can be a killer or an accelerator. Organizations must, in a timely manner, implement automation that enables business outcomes in the most efficient manner possible.
9. Not leveraging data
Don’t lean on intuition when you have facts. Glean intelligence from your data in order to drive continuous learning and improvement.
10. Not having the right set of talent
The wrong people will get you the wrong results. In digital transformation, it is crucial to assemble the right team of talented people. Ensure that this team can work collaboratively. Without this solid foundation, the process is likely to experience numerous setbacks and failures.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of potholes on the road to digital transformation. Avoid these ten fatal mistakes, and contact us to discuss your journey towards digital transformation.
