Your business transformation plan doesn’t have to fail

Business transformation plans often fall flat, despite the well-meaning efforts of leadership.

Why is this? 

Typically, it’s a mix of complacency and limited resources. 

This is a surefire path to failure in industries like product manufacturing, where competition is fierce and margins are tight. 

As a business leader, your challenge isn’t just keeping the machine running; it’s redesigning it for the future.

Sustainable, long-term business transformation is not a “set it and forget it.” It requires continuous adaptation, such as: 

Your teams can’t handle it alone (nor should they be expected to) because it’s a full-time effort in addition to their primary roles.

In fact, recent research shows that 88% of business transformations fail to achieve their original ambitions and “those that succeed avoid overloading top talent.”

Meaningful business transformation takes constant work, which can be overwhelming for companies of all sizes, including those with substantial staff.

It doesn’t matter how much talent your team packs when they’re deeply entrenched in daily operations (as they should be!). They simply don’t have the extra hours in a day to get ahead of market trends, technological disruptions, and competitive shifts. 

This is precisely why management consulting and strategic advisory firms exist. 

A strategic advisory team provides an external, objective perspective. They enhance your team’s strategic capabilities rather than replace it. 

Their focus is on identifying inefficiencies, uncovering untapped growth opportunities, and offering proven frameworks to drive innovation and business transformation.

You might be skeptical. You might think, “My team knows this business better than anyone. I don’t need outside advisors.” 

I hear you. But before you rule out the one thing that can quickly pull you out of complacency, ask yourself:

If any of that gives you pause, it’s time to strongly reconsider your business transformation strategy. 

More aptly put, it’s time to kick complacency to the curb. 

They make you more successful. 

Let’s make this real. Companies that engage with strategic advisory teams have seen:

These aren’t theoretical outcomes. They’re real results that businesses see every day when they work with our advisors.

What happens when you choose to tackle big business transformation plans on your own? 

The true cost of inaction is far greater than any advisory fee; it’s lost market share, declining margins, and missed opportunities that may never come again.

Of course, working with an outside team is always a big decision. It’s imperative to do your research and interview several different firms before jumping in. 

Any advisor worth their salt should take the time to get to know you and your business before kicking off a large engagement. 

It’s an important investment and both entities need to ensure they’re the right fit for each other. 

Look for advisors who have vast experience in your industry. Ask them for case studies and examples of work they’ve done with organizations similar to yours. 

Find out how they work and ask them how they deliver on their strategies (not just delivering a plan itself, but providing support through every phase of execution). 

Maybe you’re still on the fence. Perhaps you’re dealing with a tight budget or you’ve been burned by advisors in the past. 

Excuses make it easy to stand still. 

Just remember, the market moves whether you do or not.