Is Constructive Disruption the Key to Successful Transformational Change?

Eva Sage-Gavin, a C-Suite thought leader and former CHRO with more than three decades of experience in Fortune 500 global consumer and technology corporations, has an inspirational message for today’s leaders. “We are capable of more than we think is possible. With courage and ingenuity, future generations can benefit from the changes we make today,” she writes in her recent essay, “Leading Change With Constructive Disruption.”

If COVID-19 and how the world reacted to it has taught us anything, it’s that change comes whether we’re ready for it or not. Those best able to adapt to change are those most likely to succeed. For example, before the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, many organizations were resistant to the idea of remote work. Companies argued “It can’t be done,” or “It will take too long,” or “We don’t have the technology to do it.” Amazingly, when pressed, many companies were able to make the transition, often in just days or weeks. Where there’s a will, it seems, there’s a way.

In her essay, which can be found in the new book, The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change, for which I am lead author, Eva contends that as we have “a chance to overhaul how we work and how our businesses operate. Companies that embrace creative solutions, harness the boom in technology advancements, and look out for the people at the core of their workforce are the ones positioned to survive and thrive as we step toward.”

Is your organization and its leaders ready to make such a transition?

According to Eva, the time is “ripe not just for disruption, but for ‘constructive disruption,’ a process of change that raises up everyone involved. It is about reimagining how things can work better in the future, instead of relying on historic data or ‘the way it has always been done.’”

I couldn’t agree more. Often within adversity, there is opportunity.

Below are several key points from Eva’s essay:

• Constructive disruption represents an innovative mindset and approach to embracing times of upheaval as opportunities to make bold systemic moves, with an eye toward long-term success and a human-centered culture.
• To apply constructive disruption to transformational change, leaders must find out what they are missing, see a future need no one else is acknowledging, diverge from the predictable course to meet it, and in the process help others benefit.
• To embrace constructive disruption, leaders must use technology, human ingenuity, and strong values to pursue the changes they want to see in their business and in the world.
• To be successful, leaders need to adapt to change to meet needs that are not yet known. They can do this by looking to the data about their company, industry, and consumers and using predictive analytics and artificial intelligence as their crystal ball to the future.
• Leaders who grow employee skills and in turn their business take a human-centered approach. They reimagine how work can be performed and reassess the changing skills needed to compete. They create new paths to success and foster a culture that allows companies to see the whole human, not just keywords on a resume.
• Recognize that predictive insights and innovative ideas do not always come from where you would expect. No one does it alone. Success is driven by people coming together with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences. Employ the wisdom of groups to solve unseen problems and tap invisible potential.
• Focus on innovative changes that lay the groundwork for long-term growth, advancement, and resiliency. The courage and fortitude we show now will pay dividends for future generations.

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The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change, from lead author Ian Ziskin and with contributions from senior business leaders, HR leaders, experts, coaches, and consultants is now available. The book shares insight, vivid stories, lessons learned, and best practices for what it takes to lead, survive, and thrive in periods of transformational change. Learn more at https://www.transformationalchangebook.com.