Are you ready for the digital transformation?

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, we hear this term all the time. In business conversations only talk about it! But, what does this REALLY mean?

We are so used to technology that we can no longer imagine life without it. And yet, when it comes to digital transformation of business or the workplace, we still have a long way to go.

I'm Valerya Carvalho and, today, and I want to talk about Leadership and Digital Transformation with you.

Do you or your company have the leadership to make digital transformation happen in business?

Many companies already know that their business will be largely digital in the years to come, but many are not really interested in dealing with the digital transformation.

And, much of the failure in the digital transformation of companies is attributed to people. It is often said that it is people who resist change because they are afraid of digital transformation.

Many people fear that their jobs will be in danger of extinction if digital solutions are implemented in their companies. Others are very concerned and nervous about security when it comes to cloud solutions and there are those who think that technologies will replace the human touch and make life totally digital, cold and automated.

The digital transformation is not really about technology and. rather, on how organizations can achieve a state of constant revolution.

Technologies are constantly evolving and it is very unlikely that we will reach a point where the transformation is fully completed.

So it is stupid to resist and blame people, simply! DOES NOT WORK!!!

There will be many obstacles along the way, but as digital solutions are already a reality, organizations will have to find ways to overcome barriers.

We can make a historical comparison between what we are experiencing with Digital Transformation in this 21st Century and the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. Like the innovations of that era, technologies have provided organizations with opportunities to increase performance and efficiency that would have been unthinkable.

As history shows, technological evolution will prevail! Therefore, instead of resisting the digital transformation, people and organizations must prepare immediately and strategically from a set of skills that will change and evolve continuously.

It is a condition sine qua non  that people and organizations acquire a wide range of digital skills.

If the organization does not create the right environment so that people can put all their creativity in order to digitally transform their business, it will not happen. Your company will die.

In an effort to join the race towards digital transformation, many organizations have chosen to train their employees to use the software. While developing such technical skills is a valid decision, teaching someone which button to press to create a bar graph or how to electronically sign a document is not enough.

For those who still believe that digital transformation is solely about creating social media sites or developing a responsive website, here is the hard truth:

Digital technologies will transform value chains, organizational structures, operational processes, revenues and business models.

And only the human being has the mastery of dealing with this complexity!

Only the human being can have ideas and be creative in solving problems and overcoming obstacles to any transformation!

The key factors in implementing digital solutions are related to people.

Organizations that have already done or are in the process of successful digital transformation rely on visionary and persistent leaders who orchestrate the transformation, which allow them to improve performance, connectivity, customer involvement and the experience of their people.

These leaders have to deal, however. with costly governance processes, the complex interweaving of committees, outdated work practices, bad tools, boring command and control cultures, with other leaders who do not want to change the status quo and with structures resistant to change.

These obstacles were built in the past, for good reasons, but now they need to be reviewed, modified, corrected and some removed.

The commitment to transformation requires identifying leaders in all parts of the organization, from top to bottom and from bottom to top.

Whatever your business model, you will have to transform it to have maximum performance, and this will require a significant commitment from ALL of the company.

Digital business transformation is hard work.

To be successful, leaders must build a common understanding of threats and identify where the company is going; communicate this vision to the entire organization; and making difficult choices about decision-making and organizational restructuring.

Leaders must also remain vigilant to ensure that the company's investment in capabilities and innovation contributes to their decisions about which digital business models and which sources of competitive advantage will be set as goals.

ALL of this work has to be done while leaders develop the leadership and competence needed to make changes.

FINALLY, they have to create the culture they need, making sure things like incentives, training, investments and hiring practices support their cultural vision, while measuring results and taking responsibility from the right people.

These steps are a profound challenge, there is no doubt. But the payoff is significant, both for leaders, for individuals as well as for the organization.

The digital age presents organizations with a rare and exciting opportunity: REINVENTING THE BUSINESS !!!

Now it is your turn.

What actions will you and your colleagues take TODAY to make a difference?

CHANGE OR DIE !!!