๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ ๐๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐จ๐๐๐ช๐ก ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ซ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ค๐ง๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ?
ย
In our work of facilitating change in organisations, few words evoke as much emotive response as transformation. People react with a wide range of emotions such as:ย
๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ, ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ, ๐ถ๐ณ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐บ, ๐ง๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ, ๐ง๐ข๐ต๐ช๐จ๐ถ๐ฆ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐น๐ช๐ฆ๐ต๐บ, ๐จ๐ถ๐ช๐ญ๐ต, ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด, ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ง๐ถ๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ, ๐ค๐บ๐ฏ๐ช๐ค๐ช๐ด๐ฎ, ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐บ, ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ, ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ด๐ฎ, ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ณ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด, ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ, ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฉ๐ถ๐ด๐ช๐ข๐ด๐ฎ
ย
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ด๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
ย
A popular analogy for transformation is the metamorphosis of the butterfly (seasonal, charming). The analogy of metamorphic rock (slow, with plenty of heat and pressure) is no less apt, though different in many ways.ย
ย
When invited to work with organisations to facilitate conversations about mapping their transformation journey, Sindiswa Calana and Cecil Murray have noticed references two main categories of transformation. While we recognise that this simple distinction does not encompass all nuances, we have named these Transformation with a โcapital Tโ, and transformation with a โsmall tโ.ย
ย
The former represents the broader policy and compliance ecosystem with a focus on systemic redress and social justice. It is about the fundamental shifts needed for building strong institutional culture that will endure. The latter represents relational and interpersonal dimensions, with a focus on workplace engagement topics like leadership, diversity, equitable representation, transformation of culture and values, and inclusive decision-making. It also encompasses creating belonging and psychological safety.ย
ย
On a human level, transformation invites questions about healing historical trauma, confronting privilege, and developing empathy across divides. It asks people to rethink identity, belonging, and responsibility in a shared future.
ย
The conversations we encourage, through questions to teams, aim to create an atmosphere of safety and openness to influence. As people share their personal experiences and perspectives, we encourage a mindset of listening for meaning and understanding.
ย
#transformation
#metamorphosis
