Blazing Trails Through the Forest of Change: A Hiker's Guide to Digital Transformation

This past 4th of July weekend, as I paused after a whirlwind few months, savored a hike to Franklin Falls. As I navigated the winding path, the rush of the waterfall in the distance, a thought struck me: isn't this journey a lot like navigating the ever-changing landscape of digital transformation?

You see, especially given the space of Digital and AI that I operate in, I have been trekking like many of you through the dense forest of business change and digital transformation for quite some time now. Some days, I feel like a seasoned ranger, confidently navigating the twists and turns. Other days? Especially with all advances in AI, I'm more like a novice hiker, fumbling with my compass and hoping I haven't wandered off the path.

But that's the beauty of this is the journey, isn't it? In this ever-changing digital landscape and now in the era of AI, we're all explorers, constantly learning to adapt to new terrain. That day at Franklin Falls, as I watched fellow hikers of all experience levels tackle the trail, it hit me: we need a guide for navigating change in our business across Digital and AI, just like we have trail guides for our outdoor adventures.

Inspired by my hike, I've been pondering how to keep myself and my community energized when the path seems endless, and the destination keeps shifting. After many fireside chats and reflections with self and my hiking partner Kavita Iyer , my soul mate, during the long weekend (and a few late nights poring over trail guides), I've mapped out three strategies that could be useful for keeping me and perhaps all of us on track:

1. Finding Our Guiding Star: Remember learning about using stars to navigate? Well, I've found that having and anchoring on a clear purpose is like having our very own North Star. When the fog rolls in and obscures our view, we need to look to our vision and purpose for guidance. It's not always easy – sometimes the star feels more like a flickering campfire – but it's made a world of difference to me and my team giving meaning to our daily trek.
2. Embracing the Rhythm of the Trail: I used to think change was a sprint to the summit. Boy was I wrong! It's more like a long-distance hike, with its own natural rhythm. We've started treating our initiatives like trail segments – periods of steep climbs followed by restful plateaus. And you know what? Celebrating our "summit" achievements or "smelling the roses" as one of my team members Patrick Kerin refers to has become a favorite team tradition during our quarterly digital planning meets. There's nothing like a good trail mix party to boost morale!
3. Growing Our Own Forest of Change: Here's a wild idea that's actually working for me: instead of trying to force change, let it spread naturally, like seedlings in a forest. Try to identify your "pioneer trees" – those enthusiastic team members especially in the field closer to customers and partners who thrive on breaking new ground. By nurturing them, I'm seeing their energy spread to the rest of the team globally. It's like watching a small grove grow into a mighty forest!

Now, I'm not claiming to be some all-knowing trail guide. Most days I feel like I'm still learning to read a topographic map or navigating with my fav AllTrails app. But I'm curious – how do you and your team navigate the rugged terrain of change? Have you discovered any hidden caves of wisdom you'd be willing to share?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. After all, we're all exploring this vast wilderness together in this new era of AI, and sharing our trail notes might just help us all discover new, exciting vistas.

Here's to finding new paths and enjoying the journey, fellow adventurers!