Collective Or Top Down: Who Sets The Org Transformation Vision?

Who do you think should set the vision for your transformation initiative? Collective or top down? What’s your personal preference? Not going to lie: I have a pretty strong opinion about it. That’s why today on The New Way podcast, I’m sharing my ta…

Who do you think should, ideally, set the vision for your transformation initiative?  Collective or top down?  What’s your personal preference?

Not going to lie: I have a pretty strong opinion about it.  

That’s why today on The New Way podcast, I’m sharing my take on whether or not your organisation’s transformation vision should be set by the collective or top down.


And I’m also sharing my approach to developing it.

Look, there are different schools of thought on this, and there’s no absolute right or wrong answer… BUT… I have some strong views about it myself.

In this episode you’ll discover:

  • My take on who should set the transformation vision

  • The big reason why I have such a strong opinion around this

  • Whether or not you should consult with stakeholders when setting the vision

I hope this convo gives you some food for thought - and a practical pathway forward for developing your own transformation vision!


I’m so curious - do you agree or disagree with my take on this topic? Let me know on LinkedIn after you listen to the episode.

TOPICS DISCUSSED AND WHERE TO FIND THEM:

[2:46]: There are different schools of thought on this topic but my opinion is that transformation visions should be set by the leadership team (top down).

[3:44]: A top down approach is not without consultation, non-inclusive, elitist or mean. It allows for the power and potential of leadership. 

[5:35]: Leadership defines, underpins and sustains workplace culture. 

[7:22]: Best case scenario - Driven top down with others brought into the process and consulted early. 

[8:06]: My approach is to work with the senior change leader to uncover the transformation vision. The leader then presents their change story to their leadership team to get their thoughts and opinions. All feedback will be carefully considered (but not necessarily acted upon). 

[10:08]: When the transformation vision resonates with the leadership team, test it with key stakeholder groups. 

[11:05]: I have a framework to help the senior leader facilitate these processes. Check out my past podcast episodes on this topic. 


LINKS

Resources mentioned:

Past podcast episodes that are so helpful on this topic:

Website: https://www.everchange.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatebyrne/

Kate Byrne