Success factors
What successful transformation programs get right
Here’s a shocking number: Only 12 % of major change programs produce lasting results.*
That means roughly 9 out of 10 times, companies pour time, money, and energy into slides and workshops – only to end up with… nothing.
How can that be?
The reasons are almost always the same
How to break free
10 Critical traps companies fall into during digital transformation
The digital landscape is constantly shifting, yet many companies find themselves stuck in place despite new strategies, tools, and ambitious projects. Their transformation efforts stall not from lack of investment but from underlying patterns that undermine progress from within. Here are ten thinking traps that companies repeatedly fall into—and how to overcome them:
Praise at work
A Clap on Zoom Isn’t Enough
If you know me, you know I’m not the kind of person who throws compliments around all the time.
And yet, I’m convinced: There’s far too little praise in German workplaces and when it happens, it’s often done wrong.
Praise is a powerful tool.
Digital transformation
Bite-sized transformation: Evolving organizations one step at a time
The word "transformation" has lost its spark. It appears again and again on executive slide decks and in political speeches, leaving many feeling frustrated. With the world facing multiple crises, grand promises of transformation often fall flat. They seem too big to swallow.
From practice
Leading from Afar
I work in leadership positions but I’m almost never in the office. Some say this sounds impossible. I think it’s the perfect match.
In many of my roles as an interim leader, I’m not in the same city as the company I’m working with, and despite engagements that typically last six months or more, I choose not to relocate. Instead, I work remotely. This approach often raises eyebrows during contract negotiations, with concerns like, “You should be in the office at least twice a month for a few days.”
Productivity
Who Do You Trust to Delete Your Notes App?
I’ve officially retired from the world of pen and paper three or so years ago. Before that I juggled notebooks and sticky notes, but as much as I love the tactile satisfaction of writing by hand, it just never worked for me. My to-dos would vanish into the ether, random thoughts would be lost to the ages.