How Ben Stokes can help you as a Transformational Leader to deploy Workday successfully

If you are a senior HCM Leader about to implement Workday and need some advice on Transformation Leadership, look at what is happening to English Cricket under the Captaincy of Ben Stokes for inspiration.

For those not aware of the context, Ben and his Coach, Brendon McCullum, have transformed an England team that had lost 16 of 17 matches into world beaters. Many argue they are changing the way cricket is being played with their new brand of cricket called?Bazball.

At first glance, the parallels may not be obvious. However, when you analyse Ben's approach to leadership, there are lessons for anyone embarking on a significant change. To support this, I have applied the 4 critical traits of Transformational Leadership to what Ben is doing and how it could apply to any respective Leader looking for inspiration on their role in deploying Workday.

The reset started 18 months ago with the installation of Ben as Captain and Brendan McCullum as Coach. Instantly, a new ethos was instilled. An aggressive high-tempo style of play. The mantra was clear, attack always. The relentlessly 'positive' narrative created a unique culture within the team and gave everyone the clarity lacking in previous coaching setups.

In your situation, you have chosen Workday. The transformational agenda has been set. You won't be delivering Human Resources in the same way again. As a result, it is essential that, as a leader, you follow in Ben's footsteps and?create a clear and compelling story that will empower your people.?

Articulate why it is crucial to your business and critically to your people, simply and persuasively. Remember, a vision isn't about detail; it's about hearts and minds; find a message that gets people to buy into what's ahead.?

If you don't lead, why would anyone follow? Ben managed to bridge the gap between exceptional player to transformational leader. In the early matches as captain, he often sacrificed his 'wicket' by being overly aggressive when playing to demonstrate his selfless commitment to?Bazball. He also backed players who took the same approach, allowing them to perform with freedom and clarity of purpose.

As a leader, are you prepared to challenge the status quo and force a new way of thinking? If people trust you, they will follow. In the context of a Workday implementation, this can be translated to playing an active role in the Workday planning and design phases.

Don't fall into the 'Our Organisation is Different' trap that plagues poorly managed projects. You have bought into Workday; if you don't believe, how do you expect your people to.

To make change stick, a Leader needs the support and buy-in of individuals they work with. Ben's case has matched this commitment to his vision by creating a supportive environment where players are able to express themselves and play freely. Players such as Jack Crawley, Jonny Bairstow & Jack Leech have thrived. Players who commit to the process are supported even if it means short-term failure.

Transformational Leaders provide direction, trust their people to deliver and transmit a sense of being part of something bigger than their people can buy into. Workday isn't just an IT system; it is the catalyst for a different type of HR delivery. To make the change, you will need advocates and champions. Identify these individuals early and support them. Please help them succeed in the early stages that support the intended vision and engage with them throughout.

As a Leader, your job is to challenge the status quo. Break the cycle of "It's the way we've always done things" or "We've tried that before, and it didn't work". Workday requires a new mindset and a new way of delivering HR Services.

Ben has challenged the assumptions underpinning cricket over the past 100 years. He is forcing his team to think differently, ultimately making decisions at different times to move the opponent out of their comfort zone.

In your Workday world, you don't have all the answers, but you are responsible for creating a culture of curiosity and encouraging new ways of thinking. Ask your people to be brave and support them to make decisions that align with your envisaged change.

In the context of this article, the least interesting thing about Ben Stokes is his cricketing ability. Yes, he is a brilliant player and has won matches single-handedly; however, what he has achieved as a leader is more remarkable. Over 18 months, he has transformed the same group of players into world-beaters by applying the simple fundamentals of Transformational Leadership.

To be clear, I am not suggesting you suddenly change and start hitting sixes; no one is asking you to be Ben. I propose you take the lessons he has applied over the past 18 months and fit them with your personal approach. Leaders come in all shapes and sizes; you should look at his work and find what style works for you. If you want to transform how your Organisation delivers HR, your people will expect you to lead it.