Are you the Titanic or the Iceberg?
When it comes to changing direction to avoid disaster companies usually behave more like an iceberg.
Why?
I believe the reason is simple, established behaviours and culture cause the business to panic and do nothing — when a change of direction could save it.
We are naturally afraid of change and cling to past beliefs — which can be fatal. The joke about the religious man believing God would save him is relevant:-
A flood covered the street and a man was sitting on a roof. The water was up to his knees. He prayed to GOD to save him. Minutes later, a boat with two people came by. They said to hop in but he said GOD would save him. The water was up to his waist. A boat came with one person in it. He said there was room, but the man said that GOD would save him. The Water was up to his neck. Then a boat came with no people and he thought that GOD would save him. He died an hour later and went up to HEAVEN. He asked GOD, ‘’ Why didn`t you save me?’’ And GOD answered, ‘’ What are you talking about? I sent you three boats!’
I have been responsible for corporate and country transformation all my career. In Ireland, where I worked, there was a need to execute change efficiently. This was because market complexity meant that relative implementation costs, can be up to 100 times that of the USA multinationals' home market.
However, it has always amazed me, that when problems arise that required change, people behave like the drowning man — they usually drown!
We have culture change tools that facilitate accelerated decision-making and agility. We have case studies that detail how others have steered the corporate ship away from disaster — yet we freeze and do nothing.
Only yesterday, I was told of a cellular operator who knew they had to execute digital organisation transformation — and had all the materials explaining what to do technically — but did not know how to start.
The cellular business, like all businesses, is commoditising and those who do not change to meet market demand, will sink into oblivion.
Change is a choice you make — start with small changes and build on results, small changes in direction would have saved the Titanic — the iceberg had less of a chance.
