Coach Dan's Blog

I've often wondered if one of the reasons transformations fail to meet expectations, is because so many organizations misuse the word "transformation."   Let's start with a couple of simple definitions. trans·for·ma·tion /ˌtran(t)sfərˈmāSH(ə)n/ noun a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance. trans·form /tran(t)sˈfôrm/ verb make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of. By these definitions, one would assume that any organization is going through a really fundamental change.  Something that will impact even the character of the organization.  That sounds like a BIG DEAL! If you were to look under the covers of what most organizations call "transformations," I suspect you'll find something somewhat different.  You see, when an organization claims to transform, the change is often limited to the addition of some new tools, or a migration to a different process or framework (way of working.)  Of c...

  I was recently asked by someone I met, "Isn't a coach really just a trainer?" My response was quick - "While a coach sometimes trains on new skills or knowledge, they also facilitate, mentor and challenge teams to improve the way they work." Looking back, I would grade myself a "C-" on that answer. I WISH I had said... "A great coach works with you to achieve your goals. They bring experiences, perspectives and tools to help you and your team accelerate performance. It's not always about faster... but it IS about better! A great coach helps you and the team identify ways to improve and then challenges you address them WHILE working to achieve the teams goals. They know that there are many different ways to make improvements, and have a "toolbox" of processes, frameworks and techniques to help identify and make them. That said, they don't just want to teach you a skill (or framework, or process) - they want you to use your skill...

The way an organization operates is a reflection on the beliefs and values of the leader. If you want to improve the way your organization creates value, start with taking a hard look at yourself. The best-laid change management plan will help you move boxes around your org chart, but making meaningful improvements within an organization first requires intentional mindset and behavior shifts across the leadership team. Where have you seen leaders change their mindset before an org change? What were the results?

There are no shortcuts to transformational improvements - but starting with small changes today can lead to big results in the future! Long term, meaningful improvements come from small, thoughtful experiments today. ✔️ Remind yourself - what's your long term goal? ✔️ Ask yourself - what's one small thing I can accomplish today to bring that goal closer? ✔️ Reflect - what did I learn from my small change? Commit to trying one small thing differently, then assess the results - You will get closer to your goal every day.