Empowering Change

Unleashing Human Potential

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, technology often takes centre stage as organisations prioritise digital transformation and cutting-edge innovations.

Amidst this tech-driven frenzy, business leaders must not overlook the most crucial element of their success - their people.

Just like the regular updates performed on our devices, it is essential to recognise the significance of regularly updating and supporting the "people operating system."

This thought leadership article delves deeper into the importance of nurturing the human side of business and explores insights drawn from Mike Quate, Sat Mann, and Catherine Boddington.

The article also examines the challenges faced by organisations in implementing change and the critical role of transformation leaders in creating an people-centric approach.

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About byDiffusion

byDiffusion is a consultancy that helps businesses of all sizes to evolve, improve and overcome the challenges holding them back. From SMEs struggling to recruit the right leaders to corporates striving to remain current and competitive.

byDiffusion is about people, consulting, and coaching – the three pillars.

1. Helping you find the right people and evolve your teams through recruitment and talent management.
2. Through consulting, we unite teams behind a clear vision, strategy, and plan.
3. Through coaching, we help teams develop and collaborate for success.

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Catherine Boddington
Catherine is a coach and consultant who helps people solve problems, choose their future and be at their best. She’s been doing this for over 25 years and has helped a multitude of people and businesses to thrive. Including some of the Sunday Times Top 100, across the legal, finance, and tech sectors.

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Mike Quate
Mike is a director and co-founder of byDiffusion. He is a forward-thinking business leader with experience in driving digital transformation and strategic growth across various industries. He is well practiced at leading organisational change, fostering innovation, and steering businesses towards operational excellence and market leadership. He is passionate about integrating technology with business strategies to create impactful solutions.

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Sat Mann
Sat is a director and co-founder of byDiffusion. He leads on supporting clients undertaking Digital Transformation, ensuring their plan aligns the right people capability against a shared set of values and outcomes. Sat focuses on achieving success by fostering a 'go slow to go fast' mindset, building small, high impact teams that deliver with integrity.

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Introduction: The Human Operating System - A Neglected Aspect of Transformation

In today's hyperconnected world, businesses are continually seeking ways to innovate and stay ahead of the competition.

The pressure to adopt the latest technologies and achieve digital transformation often overshadows the importance of nurturing the most valuable asset within any organisation - its people.

While technology plays a crucial role in driving efficiency and enhancing processes, it is the human operating system that powers creativity, collaboration, and ultimately, the success of any enterprise.

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The Unique Prowess of Human Capabilities in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way we approach everyday tasks, from voice-controlled home systems to powerful algorithms analysing vast amounts of data.

However, amidst this technological whirlwind, we often overlook the most complex and advanced piece of technology that has ever existed: humans. There is a common narrative about the potential of AI, with its efficiency and speed far outweighing the human ability to process and analyse information. But in the midst of our excitement about this technology, we often neglect to celebrate the unique and inherent capabilities we possess as humans.

As a species, we've evolved from primitive hunter-gatherers to societies capable of nuanced conversation, ground-breaking inventions, and extraordinary feats of engineering. This progress was not achieved artificially; it was made possible by the innate human qualities of connectivity, empathy, and creativity.

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“Research has shown that up to 75% of change programmes fail to capture long-term value”

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The Failure of Change Programmes and the Human Capacity for Change

Research has shown that up to 75% of change programmes fail to capture long-term value. One of the critical reasons behind these failures is the speed at which employees can absorb and internalise change. The relentless rate of change that people are experiencing today is pushing hard against the limits of employees' capacity to adapt.

“Organisations must recognise this human capacity for change and devise strategies to ensure that transformation initiatives are implemented in an people-centric way”

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Here are some thoughts about how to do that.

1. Embrace an people centric approach to Transformation: To unlock the full potential of their workforce, organisations need to embrace an people-centric approach to transformation. This approach recognises that colleagues are not just implementers of change but also proponents of it. Transformation leaders in the organisation play a pivotal role in removing obstacles to change, mitigating risks, and helping colleagues navigate the demands placed on them.
2. Creating a Psychological Safe Space for Innovation: A key aspect of nurturing the human side of business is creating a psychologically safe space for innovation and collaboration. Transformation leaders must cultivate a culture of trust and empathy within their organisations. This involves encouraging open dialogue, welcoming diverse perspectives, and valuing each team member's contribution.
3. Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Effective leadership in the context of human-centric transformation requires emotional intelligence. Adept leaders are able to understand their own emotions and the emotions of others. This enables leaders to empathise with their teams, making them more attuned to their needs and concerns.
4. Humility and Vulnerability: In the pursuit of transformational success, leaders must embrace humility and vulnerability. Vulnerability also fosters stronger connections within teams. When leaders are open about their own challenges and uncertainties, it encourages team members to share their thoughts and concerns openly.
5. Building Resilience and Capacity for Change: Change is inevitable in the business world, and building resilience, capability and energy in colleagues is crucial for navigating the uncertainties that come with transformation. Resilient employees are more likely to embrace change and view challenges as opportunities for growth and development.
6. Coaching and Support: Coaching and support play a significant role in nurturing the human operating system within organisations. Coaching provides colleagues with a safe space to explore their thoughts, hopes and feelings, enabling them to understand their own strengths and make sense of the change and build a plan for the future.

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“It’s not about reverting but recalibrating”.

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Time for a reset

Imagine if we only updated our smartphones once a decade. They'd be vulnerable, outdated, and inefficient.

Similarly, our 'people operating system' requires frequent attention. A 'human operating system reset' is not about reverting but recalibrating. It emphasises resilience, energy, adaptability, empathy, and creating a workplace that fosters growth amidst change.

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Purpose-led Organisations and Their Impacts on Employer Brand

Organisations that are led by a clear purpose – beyond just profit – have a distinct advantage when it comes to building a robust employee value proposition.

By connecting employees' daily tasks and roles to a greater cause, these organisations foster a deeper sense of belonging, alignment, and motivation amongst their staff.

Employees are more likely to feel engaged, valued, and understood when they perceive their work as contributing to a larger, meaningful mission.

Consequently, a strong alignment with purpose can significantly bolster an organisation's employer brand, making it more attractive to both existing and prospective employees.

In an age where talent acquisition and retention have become paramount, having a strong employer brand backed by a genuine purpose can be a gamechanger.

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In conclusion: Prioritising the Human Operating System for Success

As businesses continue to navigate a rapidly changing world, the imperative of regularly updating the people operating system becomes increasingly evident. The success of any transformational initiative relies on the engagement, creativity, and commitment of the workforce. Regularly updating the human operating system ensures that businesses can adapt, grow, and unleash the full potential of their workforce for years to come.

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