The 10 most important digital transformation skills that matter

There are 10 key digital transformation skills that truly matter – everything outside of those is probably not worth talking about.

1. Confident visible leadership. The most successful digital transformations are driven from the very top of the organization with CEO and board level active sponsorship. Executives must ‘own’ digital initiatives in word and deed and be seen and heard doing so.

"Technology is not going to stop its advance. It is too late to try to catch up with it. Instead it is critical to not lose sight of technology and keep it in your sights ahead of you.

In today’s tech-centric and tech-enabled world, to not be aware of how tech can help you or your business is doing yourself and your business a disservice and making you less competitive in the global marketplace."

Colin S. Levy (Lawyer, Legal Tech Consultant, and Startup GC)

2. Digital literacy. Executives, managers and leaders of digital change programs must have a comprehensive understanding of digital and a fluid digital mindset that is willing, able and ready to foster and support a ‘always learning, fail forward culture’. They must understand data analytics, software development, cloud computing, SAAS platforms, intelligent automation and cyber security skills.?Knowing these skills helps shape a business strategy that will work into the digital fabric of the future.

3. Highly collaborative storytelling skills.?There are three things every leader needs to do when driving a digital change program – communicate, communicate and communicate some more.

Leaders need to paint a bright and shiny picture of a superior digital future in a way that excites, delights and encourages followership on the difficult road ahead.?

This is achieved by storytelling in a way people can relate to and in a way that encourages excitement and followership. People transform business, not technology.?So, keep them up to date and engaged. Do this in a way they understand where they are going and how you are winning.

"While many aspects are required to see 100+ percent ROI, none may be more important than the communication plan.

Successful business leaders think through how end users and customers will be impacted, what questions they’ll ask, and how they’ll react to the initiative.

They then develop specific and targeted responses and integrate them into the overarching deployment strategy that includes short-term wins as evidence the change is working."

Xina Seaton, VP Global Customer Experience, SS&C Blue Prism

(https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/change-management-how-address-employees-concerns-xina-seaton/

4. Change management skills.?Digital transformation is hard. It is an endeavour not a project. Digital change impacts everyone and everything within the organisation. Those leaders who deliver a comprehensive change management program that has employees and customers at its core, will win out.

"There are 3 technical elements in digital transformation. They are AI/ML, Data Science, and Automation. However, they should not be your focus as there is only one focus - that is PEOPLE.?People transform businesses not technology. Focus on your people, always.”

Shige Sato , Co-Founder and CEO, ARGOS LABS Incorporated

5. Strategic mindset and vision.?Too many leaders get caught up in the day-to-day operations and priorities of a business.?True visionary leaders can separate themselves from the day-to-day shenanigans and shape a path to the future.?Winning today does not guarantee a business the right to walk onto the playing field tomorrow.?

Strategic minded leaders build for tomorrow today and keep focus on the future horizon when everyone else is focused on the now. They deeply understand the strategic necessity of digital transformation for their organization and they work tirelessly to deliver it. Leaders must possess creativity, adaptability and learnability to craft a digital vision of the future and focus the business on that future vision.

6. Financial fluency. Everyone needs to know their numbers, not just the CFO. In the same way you cannot delegate digital transformation to the CIO or CTO; you cannot delegate the financial strategy to the CFO. Everyone should know their business numbers and deliver projects on, or in advance of, time and budget. No team should build a business case that does not return value. You would not put your own money down the drain so why would you do that with the business’s money?

"Outsiders to a finance organization of a business are either a cost center, or, a P&L center, know the difference, know the numbers, become intimate with those labels (Cc, P&Lc) and how they relate to the wider company mission, vision and values - these should be how you are [partially at least] incentivized."

Norman C Frederick (Tech/CFO/Business Advisor and ‘recovering BU CFO’)

7. Unicorn translation skills.?The business does not understand technical jargon and the IT team often doesn't understand business jargon.?Therefore, those who can act as translators between the business and technology teams – the unicorns - will be more likely to help the business drive to success.

“I think translation is a great term for a host of important analytic skills, as business processes often require significant analysis and documentation to understand and communicate the true current state.?Once translated, however, I have always been impressed with the decisions and actions of leadership.??

Without translation, a metaphor comes to mind of blind folks around an elephant passionately arguing over what they perceive, as they are all touching different parts of the elephant.?

Decisions made from this scenario are always partly right, but mostly wrong.”?

Bryant Richards, Director, Center for Intelligent Process Automation at Nichols College

8. Exceptional subject matter expertise.?Those transforming the organisation must first understand the business – and that includes the nuts and bolts of the daily business as well as how customers and staff feel about it and the market. How can you expect to transform something you don’t understand??Being digital is not about technology – it is digitising processes in a superlative manner that excite and delight you staff and customers alike. You can only do that, if you know what you are talking about.

“Hire a specialist company whose team lives and breathes digital transformation. Digital is a specialist skills area which requires special skills.

Don't risk handing such an important business capability to amateurs”

Olivier Gomez, Co-Founder and CEO of IAC.AI

9. A never done attitude.?A growth mindset is needed to want to make change happen.?You must thrive on change.?You must go that extra mile everyday to make change happen, then work to deliver the next stage of the digital transformation journey.

"Technology is not going to stop its advance. It is too late to try to catch up with it. Instead it is critical to not lose sight of technology and keep it in your sights ahead of you.

In today’s tech-centric and tech-enabled world, to not be aware of how tech can help you or your business is doing yourself and your business a disservice and making you less competitive in the global marketplace."

Colin S. Levy (Lawyer, Legal Tech Consultant, and Startup GC)

10. Emotional intelligence. You need to understand what is being said and what is being felt by your customers, colleagues and partners. Change is hard. There will be bumps in the road.?The past will seem reassuring and comforting when times are hard.?Often it is what is not said that is the most telling part of a conversation.

Sensing problems and worries ahead of time and knowing what to do and say to keep everyone moving forward is a key skill of advanced leaders.?

"Technology is the tool of digital transformation, but people are the heart of it. People can enable digital transformation, or block it. Communicate what the goals and benefits are ahead of a project, check in regularly, and listen...well.

We are creatures of habit and comfort, and change can make us feel uncomfortable. Anticipate and look for that discomfort so you can be there to give encouragement and reassurance."

Dani Perelli, Influencer Relations Manager, Kofax

Conclusion:

Digital transformation presents a huge opportunity for leaders to re-imagine their businesses.?

Developing digital transformation skills will help your business to not just survive, but thrive, now and into the future

By investing in these skills themselves, and in their workforce, leaders will realise true digital transformation change across the organisation.

Kieran ?is recognized as a digital transformation, intelligent automation, data analytics and social media strategy thought leader.

Kieran ?recently launched a book which you can order from Amazon. For those of you who want to order this easy to read, light hearted but always thoughtful and factual book then pre-order yours now US -?https://amzn.to/3wkESd9 ?or UK -?https://lnkd.in/eS56t2wz