19.11.2024
The Brainfix Series 1 - The Inconvenient Truth
Change is always everywhere.
Just remember the recent pandemic when the whole world suddenly had to deal with 'change'. Everything and everyone had to change, from certain systems to certain habits.
Nowadays we are dealing with a lot of new technologies like artificial intelligence which are also changing the way things work.
Change IS really always everywhere.
And in this constant changing world recent studies show that about 70% of the projects that try to make changes... fail #theinconvenienttruth
The reasons WHY are numerous:
Lack of a good management, lack of a change mindset, lack of clear communication, lack of organisational talent, ... .
Through all these reasons WHY changes fail, we can draw 3 basis lines.
Three main issues why change projects are often unsuccessful:
The projects are too big, too complicated, and/or too vague.
And this applies not only to big organisations, but also to individuals trying to change their behaviour.
Who doesn't know someone who on the 1st of January wants to get fitter in the new year and decides to aim for a marathon or half marathon. That's just too much and can be overwhelming (it’s too big). Or maybe we want to start meditating every day, but it's hard to find the time and a quiet place when we have a busy family (it’s too complex). We might also want to live a healthier life, but if we don't set specific goals and actions, it's hard to know what to do (it’s too vague).
To simplify change projects and make them more successful, whether it's for a big organisation or for ourselves, we need to remember three important things: make it small, make it smooth, and make it specific. By breaking change into smaller steps, making the process easier, and setting clear goals that we can measure, we can avoid the problems of trying to do too much, making things too complicated, or not being clear enough.
Let's look at a few examples of projects that failed because they were too big, too complicated, or not clear enough…:
🤔 Why don’t we have an idea box? 📦
It started with this phrase: "Why don't we have an idea box where our colleagues can send in suggestions to improve our projects?” A very simple, pragmatic idea that became quite big, complex and vague in a few months time.
This happened in a larger government organisation in the Netherlands with 9,000 employees. They wanted to encourage innovation within the whole community. They came up with the idea of having an idea box where employees could submit their ideas. However, things quickly became more complicated.
They decided to roll out this idea box to the entire organisation, involving all 9,000 employees. This made the project very big. Additionally, they wanted to provide feedback on the ideas quickly, so they decided to collect the ideas digitally and respond within a month. This added complexity to the project.
To support the employees, they also introduced the concept of an innovation coach. If an employee had a new idea, they could reach out to the innovation coach, who would help refine the suggestion and make it more specific and feasible. However, by implementing all these elements - the organisation-wide rollout, digital collection of ideas & quick feedback, and the innovation coach - the project became very big, complex, and unclear.
As a result, people didn't know how to effectively engage with the innovation coach or what their role was in the process. The project lost clarity and became vague. After 4 months, the whole project was cancelled. It failed.
This example highlights the challenges that arise when a project becomes too big, too complex, and lacks clear direction. Simplifying and clarifying the process can greatly increase the chances of success.
🎓 But Cyriel, you should sell online training to individuals. 💰
This is an anecdote from my experience attempting to sell products online to individual consumers, a venture that has seen repeated failure in my life. In my professional career, I deliver keynote speeches to organisations worldwide, typically reaching out to them through professionals in HR, Marketing, or Event Management. This demographic target is clear and well-defined, and I've gained extensive experience in working with them.
However, I've been tempted on a few occasions by fellow speakers to explore the idea of generating passive income by selling my content directly to individuals online.
I've made three or four attempts at this project, all of which ended in failure. I've come to understand that targeting individual consumers requires a different approach. It involves focusing on smaller transactions and generating a high volume of sales. It entails utilising platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn for advertising, appearing on various podcasts, and increasing visibility through YouTube videos. Additionally, the platform used for selling must be efficient and user-friendly. While it all sounds straightforward, executing it in reality presents significant challenges.
Reaching the individual consumer market demands a considerable investment of time, effort, and money. While I can create the online product itself competently, navigating the communication strategy and logistical operations is unfamiliar territory for me. I haven't dedicated enough time to understanding the specific needs of this demographic. It's too big, too complicated, and too vague for me to turn it into a success.
Therefore, I've decided to abandon the notion of generating passive income through online product sales and instead focus on my existing strengths. This decision has brought me much greater satisfaction and contentment.
💭 Sssss ... A moment of reflection 🌟
As we close this newsletter, I encourage you to think about the power of simplicity in achieving success. Reflect on the stories shared and identify parallels in your own life or work. Are there projects or goals that have felt overwhelming due to their size, complexity, or lack of clarity? Take a moment to envision how simplifying these initiatives could lead to greater success.
In the upcoming episodes, we will provide you with practical tips and tricks to help you navigate these challenges effectively. These strategies will equip you with the necessary tools to ensure that you are well-prepared and ready to tackle any change project, regardless of its size or complexity.
Cheers!
Cyriel Kortleven
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Hi, I’m Cyriel Kortleven - known as "The Simplifier". I’ve spent over 20 years inspiring organizations to approach change with clarity, courage, and optimism.
This episode is part of my brand new newsletter-series, called Brainflix, inspired by my keynote Making Change Simple.
Get ready for inspiring examples, tips, and tricks to help you make change simple in both life and work!
More on www.cyrielkortleven.com