How do we make BIG organizational change happen fast?

A true test of first-rate leadership intelligence.

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise." ~ Scott Fitzgerald

??Did you know?

Humans are actually worse than monkeys at unlearning old habits. Studies show we score lower in cognitive flexibility—meaning we struggle to let go of the past, even when change is necessary.

This is why, perhaps, the biggest obstacle to innovation, change and transformation isn’t a lack of ideas—it’s resistance to change. The core idea of Change Management.

The good news: There’s a way to overcome it. And it's been known since ancient China it seems.

The Kaizen Way??

For centuries, the principle has been the same:

?? “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Then we get Kaizen, a core principle of Toyota Production that made them one of the industry leaders, having efficiency managers from all over the world to come and learn.

?? Incremental change is the key to big shifts

When you break down a big shift into small, manageable steps, you remove fear, reduce stress, and build momentum. It's proven by neuroscience, Finland achieving its sustainability goals, and SAP shifting their core operations into the cloud.

PwC puts it well: “Incrementalism is a proven way to simultaneously build momentum and test proof of concept while reducing stress, churn, and disruption in your organization.”

This applies to everything—from leading a global business transformation to tackling the climate crisis to helping employees embrace new ways of working.

https://www.strategy-business.com/article/The-power-of-incremental-momentum

? Why does this work so well?

• Small wins prove we are on target, we are safe, which gives a sense of progress.
• A sense of progress is the #1 driver of human performance.
• Less resistance = faster adoption = exponential impact.

This principle applies at every level of human life.

When I coached clients on weight loss, we didn’t start with extreme diets or workouts. Instead, we set a bold goal—then began with one small shift, like switching milk in a cappuccino or taking a 10-minute walk after dinner.

The result?

They finally achieved in a year what they struggled with for decades—because they weren’t fighting their own resistance.

?? Leaders, this applies to you too.

In a world of rapid change and disruption, where it seems that the change has to also be BIG and FAST to work, your ability to balance big vision with small, strategic steps will define your exponential success.

Big things don't start big but by turning the dial just 1 degree steady, consistently, you'll soon end up ahead of the curve, in a brave new world.

Big goals require small steps taken consistently.

PS If you’re leading transformation in your organization and want to master this mindset shift, this ability to navigate opposing ideas, along with other essential skills of change management in the disrupted age - our ??Change Leadership Accelerator is designed for you.

Get in touch to win BIG acting small.