Marcia Daszko on the Catalyst for Strategic Change and Transformation

Is your organization applying best practices — or seeking to drive true transformation? 

According to Marcia Daszko, a leading business strategist for leadership and organizational transformation, speaker, author and MBA professor, “If people want to apply best practices, they’re already a step behind.”

On the latest Lean Frontline podcast Daszko explained that companies seeking to apply another organization’s beliefs, assumptions and data will find that innovation isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. Instead of searching for best practices, she encourages change leaders to instead ask: “How can we create new markets? How can we better serve our customers? How can we be unique and revolutionary and radical and dream and go after those dreams?”

Start at the top

For Daszko, the first step of transformation must start at the top. 

“Transformation happens from the top,” Daszko says. “Continual improvement can happen throughout an organization but to transform an organization it takes top leadership. That job cannot be delegated.”

Transformation is vastly different from more traditional, transactional change, Daszko says. Transformation requires a mindset change. It’s about setting out into new territory. Succeeding on that journey demands continual learning, adaptation, and a team willing and able to work toward a set vision. 

“An organization’s team of people that focuses on learning, working, improving and innovating together — that’s where the power is,” Daszko says. 

To make a difference and drive that transformation, Daszko says leaders must offer clear direction, but the entire team must learn to adapt based on what is being learned during the process. 

Forget about failure

Daszko offers one more key: nix the word failure. That is in fact the foundation of the Deming Cycle, or PDCA cycle, and Daszko says this foundation will help drive success. 

“Everything should be another step in the learning process,” she encourages. “If something doesn’t work that’s just another opportunity to learn and move forward.” 

For more strategies on how to drive continuous improvement, listen to the full podcast on The Lean Frontline.