Can There Be Digital Transformation Without Personal Transformation? (Part 1)
In Oct 2019, whilst at the Women in Business Expo, I attended a StemConnext panel discussion on female leadership entitled “How To Jump To The Top”.
The panel was made up of various women in leadership roles and included Mindset Coach Susie Ramroop. Whilst each panelist shared their personal journey to leadership and how they tackled the challenges along the path, it was Susie’s story that resonated the loudest with me. She handled each question from the audience by cutting right through to the core of the issue and effortlessly knowing the exact question to ask to unblock. Something awoke inside me and I was hooked to know more about this mindset coaching.
A few days later, with Susie’s advice still ringing in my ears (“Be it - so others can see it”), I did what any corporate, professional, confident woman who knows her outcome does - I stalked her on LinkedIn. At the time, my career was not where I wanted it to be, I was not making the personal impact I wanted, and I certainly wasn’t thriving. If I’m honest, I had been feeling this way for quite a while but seemed blocked as to what the issue was. I had tried several methods to shift myself - from reading personal development books, undertaking additional training to upskill, trying different roles within my organisation - but nothing was putting me on a path where I felt I was flourishing.
Then something serendipitous happened, she caught me! As I was scrolling through Susie’s archive of articles, she messaged me: “Hi! I noticed you’ve been looking at my profile, would you like to arrange a call?”.
Fast forward three months, and Susie is leading me on my personal transformation journey. I’ve already made shifts in my mindset that have impacted every area of my life positively, including my career. After years of habitual, unconscious thought patterns that did not serve me, I now have new and more empowering perspectives.
My journey is just beginning and I’m only halfway through my work with my coach. But already, I’ve been able to identify the time wasting activities in my diary and replace these with productive ones (process optimisation!). I’ve created space to focus on what really give me joy, which is connecting with people (customer engagement!). I’ve identified unfulfilling tasks that I can delegate or let go of all together (increased efficiency!). I’m gathering evidence and feedback on what feels right (insights from data!) and what does and doesn’t work in the real world (failing fast!).
Of course, this type of mindset shift is an investment. I had to stretch my personal innovation budget in order to be able to work with the best to achieve my new vision. But what was my alternative? I could not face another year where I saw other people move forward while I stayed stagnant. Or worse, was made redundant altogether!
I now understand what successful transformation looks and feels like. To me it means:
· Having a vision for a better future
· Be willing to trust in the person who is leading me to it
· Be willing to let go of my need to know how everything is going to work out in every detail
· Understand that “failure” is also good feedback
With what I now know, I’m wondering, it is possible for companies to undertake successful digital transformations without their own people undergoing personal transformations?
I will be posting more about my own transformation journey in the coming months, but in the meantime, I’m interested in hearing your views on this.
Leading delivery of strategic digital and professional skills - because everyone should be able to flourish at work
5 年Galia Gil Hellyer - Thank you for this timely and important message! And I think your assumption is correct about personal transformation. The future of work is going to be about constantly recreating yourself, learning new skills and going to the places where those skills are needed. We all need a growth mindset and heaps of self-knowledge to thrive in that model, and coaching is one of the most powerful ways to stay agile and in touch with your own development. We really need to have that exchange we keep talking about! ;-)
Data Leader | 20 Women in Data & Tech 2020 | DataIQ 100 2024 | Inspirer of People, Storyteller, Data Geek, Authentic Leader | Girls in Data Co Lead @ WiD
5 年Thank you so much for sharing this Galia Gil Hellyer - such an inspirational, open, honest and needed discussion. I can't believe the transformation over the last 4 months. Keep the faith. This is brilliant, and you will inspire many others too.
Helping drive the access to low carbon transportation (Stating my personal views not those of my company)
5 年Lovely piece Galia Gil Hellyer - honest and open. Two amazing traits, two reasons why it is a pleasure to work with you.
Technology Evangelist #geoscience, #cloudcomputing
5 年No there can’t be digital transformation without personal transformation. There are many companies promising that their hardware, software and new workflows will be THE digital solution. The changes required in staff behaviours is often overlooked. Additionally these solutions often only address a symptom and ignore the root cause(s). The problem then transforms (the cheese moves) and there is no overall business benefit.