By empowering middle managers to sponsor transformative changes, companies can achieve breakthrough results. The collective wisdom of these managers and teams is crucial in successful transformations. It’s important to identify and develop the next generation of leaders by enlisting the best middle managers who bring creativity and ingenuity to the process.
The traditional top-down approach to business transformation is no longer effective as it once was. Only a small fraction of transformations are able to deliver lasting results, with the majority failing to have a sustained impact. While top-down directives may be useful for cutting costs and improving efficiency, they do not typically lead to significant improvements in business performance.
To drive successful transformation, companies need to reexamine every aspect of their business and reward bold action and results that reflect the need for wholesale change. This requires empowering middle managers with the support needed to implement significant changes and come up with innovative ideas. By doing so, companies can achieve sustainable success through meaningful transformations.