But transformation is not a fad. It is a necessity. In this article, I explain why, what it involves, and how you can drive it forward without it backfiring.
What is transformation?
When we talk about transformation, we are talking about turning “something” that already exists into “something” better. We are not looking to start from scratch. We are looking to improve, which can mean many things: more efficient, more human, simpler, more sustainable, more scalable… The key is that, after a transformation, more value is delivered with less effort, time, or resources. Whether in products, services, processes, or even ways of working.
Success story: from copper to fiber
One example in the field of telecommunications that has transformed the daily lives of millions of people is the transition from copper to fiber optics.
This change began to be implemented in 2010, but pilot tests with this new material had already begun in the 2000s. The goal was clear: to offer a faster, more stable connection with the capacity to support everything we now take for granted (streaming, video calls, connected homes, etc.).
This change was not easy, as it involved understanding a new technology, knowing how to use it, redesigning processes, training people, adapting services, and dealing with a huge network that was already in place. But the benefits are clear, and without them we would not understand the world we live in.
The biggest obstacle: ourselves
So, if the benefits are so obvious, why is change so difficult? We might think of technological challenges, funding problems, or a lack of expert knowledge. But no.
Paradoxically, although we are the ones driving change, we are also the biggest obstacle. But this must be understood in perspective. The statements at the beginning of this article are not empty complaints. They come from professionals who are experts in their field. They know what to do, how to do it, and who to talk to. They have everything under control, and that gives them security.
The problem with having so much control over what you do is that you feel comfortable. And that’s where the comfort zone comes in. And when something threatens to take us out of that zone, resistance to change arises.
What is resistance to change?
Resistance to change is the more or less conscious rejection of anything that jeopardizes what we already know. It’s not just a work issue. It’s human nature, because losing the sense of control we have over our surroundings disturbs us, makes us nervous. It makes us uncomfortable.
The problem with not leaving our comfort zone is that we don’t move forward, we don’t grow, we don’t contribute more. And in today’s fast-paced and competitive environment, this is a death sentence.
Listen to others, and they will listen to you
The question is clear: how do we overcome this resistance? The answer is even clearer: listen to what they need. The most effective way to convince someone is to let them convince themselves. They must believe that the path they are going to take is the best option for their future.
Therefore, the best way to overcome resistance is to listen to what the people who will be affected by the change need. Ask them what concerns them, what they lack, what they would like.
This will give us all the capabilities that will make their lives easier and that we can incorporate into our project. Then, these groups will join our transformation. And they will want it to happen as soon as possible.
Because they will understand what our transformation is seeking, what it brings, and how it will benefit them. We will then have overcome the main obstacle in any transformation process.
Listening allows us to connect with others, with their needs, their constraints, and their daily lives. If we connect with them, they will connect with our vision and with our transformation.
Trust must be reciprocated
Of course, don’t forget what you promise, because they won’t. When someone tells you what they need and you commit to solving it, you haven’t just taken note: you’ve made a promise. Keeping it is not optional. Because if you don’t, you lose something fundamental: their trust. And without trust, there is no transformation for the better, no project that moves forward, no culture that evolves.
Listening opens the door. Keeping your promises is what lets you through. Transformation isn’t about changing things. It’s about changing with people. And that only happens when you prove, with actions, that what you said was true.
