What Does a Business Transformation Consultant Do?

There are a lot of variabilities when answering a question like that.

Each and every assignment we work on is about business transformation of some sort. Although many clients don’t define their challenge as transformation.

Our definition of what’s involved in transformation has been built over several decades and seeing first-hand what business transformation takes.  

Solving a challenge or exploiting an opportunity is the foundation of all strategic thinking. The outcome of both is a fundamental change for some or all of the enterprise.

The ‘consultant’ and the team involved in making the transformation happen (and sustain) have to achieve meaningful engagement and ownership of the strategy through to execution. 

And the execution demands at the very least - a clear vision, outcomes, measures of achievement, a full map/context explaining the barriers and dynamics,  a revised operational blueprint, the roadmap of actions and initiatives with precise and clear accountability/responsibility/deliverables, a business case and investment, the culture and skills to match and the complete appreciation of the program signed off by the leadership.  

It’s often the case that several transformation consultants are brought in with specialised expertise in several of these areas.

A Whole World Of Transformation 

Today's business climate is unpredictable, changing at a rapid pace, and filled with opportunities for leaders to utilize new tools for re-invention and growth. In some ways, there's never been a more challenging time to be in business. There's also never been a more exciting time!

Most modern leaders know that some kind of transformation is inevitable at some point if they wish to keep up with current trends and maximize their potential for growth. They may see the world-changing rapidly around them and struggle to keep up. 

Wise leaders know that, as with all change, it's better to face things head-on rather than waiting it out and hoping the dust will soon settle.

Identifying the Need for Change 

For many leaders, this applies particularly to the constantly changing digital landscape and the enormous scope it offers for up-levelling on a massive scale. For others, it's simply a question of looking deeper into the systems and structures they have in place and discovering new ways to enhance the productivity and effectiveness of their operations.

Others will have simply reached a plateau. They know that new growth is possible and that there are countless potential customers looking for exactly what they provide, but they are somehow unable to reach them. For others, the problem could be a breakdown in communication, a lack of alignment across their teams, or an inability to unite around a central company mission or goal. 

Many leaders will be highly aware of exactly what needs to change within their organizations but lack the tools, technologies, and facilitation that will enable them to achieve the desired results.

When You're Not Sure What Needs to Change

Knowing what needs to change is often the first step. But there are times when there's simply a sense of being stuck, with no clue or direction regarding where or how the transformation needs to happen. Without clear direction, many leaders will falter at this stage and think there's something wrong with the business, the economy, the season, the climate, or the times we're living through.

Others will thrive. 

So, what's the answer? 

How is it possible for businesses to achieve monumental company-wide transformation in a relatively short time and capitalize on all opportunities where there previously seemed to be nothing but the chilling sound of crickets and inertia?

Getting the Help You Need 

For small businesses, the problems may be easier to spot and relatively simple to fix. For larger organizations, help may be needed. 

When businesses are struggling to achieve a transformation in one or more key areas, they sometimes call in a business transformation consultant or a team of specialists to help identify and guide them through the changes. 

Leading organizations concerned about the long-term future of their company will hire a team of transformation specialists as a matter of course. Their leaders recognize that it's not always possible to understand the nature of the change that needs to happen and implement it seamlessly without professional guidance.

Knowing where and when to get help is crucial if a business is to survive and thrive once the need for change has been identified.

A Bird's Eye View

Having a bird's eye view of your business can be challenging at the best of times, but when you're mired in all those tiny operational details and focusing on what's not working, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.

Working with a business transformation consultant seems to be the obvious answer. 

Working with a team of visual strategists, however, will enable you and your teams to literally see a visual map of your company, exactly as it would currently look from that all-important bird's eye view. 

Along with all the gaps, miscommunications, and recommendations, you will also begin to see a huge untapped reservoir of opportunities for growth, up-levelling, and a better working experience for all.

Not all problems can be resolved in board meetings and brainstorming sessions. When you begin to work with a team of experts, you and your teams will see flawed mechanisms you never dreamed were at work in your company and quickly begin to recognise simple solutions you never imagined would make such a profound difference.

Using Strategies That Work

To enhance your likelihood of achieving lasting change in today's disruptive and constantly evolving market, ground-breaking new strategies are called for. Look for ways to identify and implement transformation effortlessly and with all teams and stakeholders on board.

Work with a team of specialists who will leave no stone unturned in their quest to help you unravel the complexity. Those who are neutral, collaborative, and who thrive on creating a structure through which you can make your most meaningful discoveries.

Our visual maps and interactive tools can make light work of your most complex business conundrums. Eager to find out how?

Click here to learn more about Group Partners’ unique system of Structured Visual Thinking™ and Framework Science.