Leading Digital Transformation (DX)

In my article, Digital Transformation isn’t just about employing a CDO, I discussed digital transformation and touched briefly on how important it was that an organisation had the right person leading Digital Transformation (DX), be that a CIO, CMO, CDO or COO.  The aim of DX is to drive continual improvements in your digital services, products and experiences that your customers will love and actively promote.  I want to continue the digital transformational theme but delve deeper into the leadership side of a transformation as this will heavily influence the outcome of any change initiative, digital or otherwise.  Get it wrong and it will be to the detriment of your customers and business.

The aim of DX is to drive continual improvements in services, products and experiences that customers will love and promote

Before any transformation can really be successful your chosen Digital Transformation (DX) leader should possess several key attributes, such as a visionary with a willingness to change the way an organisation operates whilst balancing the current and future needs of the organisation as well as the ability to empower individuals/teams.  Their ability to converse with all parts of the organisation in terms of customer outcomes rather than technology solutions is also fundamental, that said being technology literate is also important.

Who leads is more important than ever

Lack of a clear strategy, leadership and the inability to balance the “old and new worlds” as well as being unable to attract and retain talent will seriously inhibit any organisation’s digital aspirations. The position and more importantly the person leading digital transformation is critical in bringing those who are less digitally inclined along for the journey, by being a visionary and storyteller who can navigate through what is bound to be periods of uncertainty and fluidity.

Their role is to lead the business strategy, vision creation, and execution and to give guidance, where they must empower and drive their teams to deliver on that strategy and vision rather than dictate.  Positively challenging the status quo is also essential, as is navigating the internal politics of an organisation to DX change and re-align mindsets to new digital ways.

Culture of empowerment

The appropriate culture and empowering of teams is key to attracting and retaining your people, whilst also providing a working environment that supports cross-team working and collaboration.  Leaders must show true empathy and listen to their people and customers so they are able to identify the root cause of any problem, rather than going straight to a solution.  

Critical to any transformation is the ability of the leader to get the company executive team on board and the organisation as a whole excited by its vision and strategy for the transformation; this will help bring teams and people along for the ride.  Articulating the new digital world will also help your teams decide if they actually want to buy into the transformation.

“On making people pay attention: ‘You can have the best technology, you can have the best business model, but if the storytelling isn’t amazing, it won’t matter. Nobody will watch” Jeff Bezos

An article in Forbes.com by IESE Business School on The 5 Keys to a Digital Mindset

Characteristics/personality of Digital Transformation (DX) leaders

The title of the person leading digital transformation is not as important as the characteristics/personality of that leader, such as being transparent, and visible, with the ability to model the new behaviours required.  A Visionary leader is also critical to leading Digital Transformation, especially for their ability to quickly gain organisational trust, giving them the mandate whilst allowing them to create, execute and embody the transformation vision and business strategy.  

With the variety of generations now in the workforce understanding how to/what motive/s these people are essential – it could be as simple as celebrating success and getting to know them as individuals, and what drives them. Knowing your people will give you an insight into what motivates and ultimately engages them to ensure a successful transformation and a good leader with all the right characteristics is essential for this.

Key leadership characteristics/requirements for Leading Digital Transformation: 

• The mandate and confidence of the Executive team to drive change
• Challenge the status quo whilst balancing old and new worlds
• Visionary storyteller
• Models future state through actions
• Navigate internal politics
• Gaining organisational trust
• Creating and gaining buy-in to a digital vision
• Champion change
• Empower and engage teams
• Executing and driving delivery of strategy
• Collaborative engagement
• Customer outcomes rather than technology
• Technology literate

Who is leading Digital Transformation in your organisation?