Chasing Mythical Change: What Nessie Taught Me About Business Transformation

Let’s be honest: If you ever find yourself on a boat in Loch Ness, staring into the dark, swirling waters, you’re doing one of two things… either questioning your life choices or secretly hoping to see something mythical break the surface.

For me, it was a bit of both. Armed with the last crumbs of Scottish fish and chips, my mind wandered where all business minds eventually go… to organizational change.

No, I didn’t actually have a midnight chat with the Loch Ness Monster. But fuelled by folklore, and a nagging curiosity about why corporate transformations often sink faster than a stone in a Scottish loch, I imagined what Nessie might say if she were a change management consultant. And folks, it turns out she has some serious business wisdom to offer.

The Power of Corporate Mythology

Just like Nessie, companies are filled with myths… legends passed down through PowerPoint decks and hushed conference room whispers. These stories dictate "how things have always been done" and often keep real transformation at bay. The problem? We chase organizational change with the same mix of scepticism and blind hope that fuels Loch Ness tourism.

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The Tourist Trap of Traditional Thinking

We’re all tourists in the land of transformation. We arrive wide-eyed, cameras at the ready, expecting a once-in-a-lifetime sighting of true change. But just like Nessie, transformation rarely poses for photos. Instead, it lurks beneath the surface, refusing to be neatly captured in a quarterly report.

What If Nessie Was Your Change Management Consultant?

Picture this: You hire a prehistoric creature to advise on corporate change. (Let’s assume HR is cool with that.) Here’s what Nessie might say, between dodging sonar scans and sipping on a deep-sea espresso.

1. The Depth Perception Problem

"You humans keep staring at the surface," Nessie might grumble, rolling her prehistoric eyes. "But real transformation happens in the deep." Like an iceberg (or an elusive lake monster), the most critical aspects of change… culture, behaviour, and mindset… are often invisible. No wonder McKinsey reports that 70% of transformation efforts fail.

2. The Adaptation Paradox

Nessie has two choices: Be the world’s most legendary hide-and-seek champion or master adaptation. Organizations face the same dilemma. Some resist change, clinging to outdated models, while others evolve strategically. A BCG study shows that companies balancing visibility and careful adaptation are three times more likely to succeed in transformation efforts. Lesson? Sometimes, survival means knowing when to dive deep and when to make a splash.

3. The Tourist Trap Escape Plan

Just as Loch Ness is more than a monster-spotting venue, your organization is more than its legacy systems. So, how do you avoid getting stuck in superficial change?

• Stop trying to snap a picture of the monster; focus on understanding the whole ecosystem.
• Quit expecting dramatic breaches of the surface; real change happens incrementally.
• Maybe, just maybe, the real treasure isn’t the legendary beast but the journey itself.

The "Nessie Approach" to Change Management

1.???? Embrace the Mystery

o??? Not all transformation is immediately visible.

o??? Create space for the unknown.

o??? Let go of the need for perfect photographic evidence.

2.???? Deep Diving

o??? Look below the surface of organizational challenges.

o??? Explore the cultural depths where real change happens.

o??? Be prepared for some murky waters.

3.???? The Tourist Perspective

o??? Fresh eyes see what locals miss.

o??? "Tourist questions" often reveal hidden assumptions.

o??? Remember, every expert was once a clueless visitor.

The Bottom Line (Or Should I Say, The Loch Bottom?)

While I may not have had a moonlit conversation with Scotland’s most elusive resident, Nessie’s legend offers a powerful metaphor for business transformation. The best organizations, like the most dedicated Loch Ness enthusiasts, maintain a balance of belief, curiosity, and critical thinking.

The Question That Surfaces

What if the real monster isn’t change itself, but our resistance to it? What legends in your organization need to be debunked… or embraced?

As for me, I’ll keep imagining those midnight chats with Nessie. Sometimes, the best business insights come when you let your mind drift across mysterious waters… even if it’s just on a tourist boat in broad daylight.

#OrganizationalChange #BusinessTransformation #ChangeManagement #Leadership #CorporatePlaybook #Innovation #BusinessHumour #NessiePerspective

Part of the Corporate Playbook Series, where we find business wisdom in unexpected places—sometimes even in the mysterious waters of Scottish lochs.