Why is it that whenever I need a pair of hands, I get a brain attached?

Why is it that whenever I need a pair of hands, I get a brain attached?

Why do so few corporate transformations succeed? Often, a select group at the top, supported by external consultants, has developed the next vision and strategy. These are poured into glossy slides and announced to the workforce in a town hall meeting. Then everyone is supposed to roll up their sleeves and join in.

I paid my own dues in a similar way during my industrial leadership career. The board meeting date was set, and we had to develop the strategy for my business unit under enormous pressure. As so often, we finished at the last minute and were greatly relieved that the strategy presentation nevertheless went well. Then came the town hall, where we presented the direction for the coming years to other leaders and employees. Everyone was invited to get stuck in and help implement it.

During the Q&A, a leader asked me: “Have I understood correctly? You now want us to implement YOUR strategy?”

Or, in Henry Ford’s words:

“Why is it that whenever I need a pair of hands, I get a brain attached?”

Lessons learned:

If transformations are to succeed, the highly intelligent minds you previously hand-picked through psychological aptitude testing, assessment centres and interviews must help shape their own working future!

Would you also like to implement change decisively and sustainably in your company? Please get in touch so we can get to know each other without obligation.