Hacking Digital 1: Building credibility as a new digital transformation leader 

Checklist

• Is your role as a digital leader clear to you and the organization’s stakeholders? 
• Do you have an aligned view of “what good looks like” for the transformation? 
• Do you have the organizational resources and levers to achieve your objectives? 
• What behaviors and actions will project competence and trustworthiness for you and your team? 
• What visible signals and quick wins will help build your reputation?  

Concrete actions  

• Make some noise! 

Enlist the support of communication teams to transmit and market the strategy and objectives of the digital transformation. Communicate progress and achievements widely, transparently, and often.

• Send strong signals 

Make visible moves that depart from the organization’s traditional ways of working. This will intrigue people, demonstrating that you have the drive to do things differently.  

• Find quick wins 

Find an initiative that you can conclude relatively fast, or an existing end-to-end initiative you can accelerate. If this isn’t possible, a succession of smaller quick wins can also help to build credibility.

• Build a coalition of believers 

Internal politics and resistance to change are hurdles for any transformation effort. Build a network of people who support the digital strategy. This network need not be formal, but it must be actively nurtured.  

Hacker’s insights 

• Iconic moves  

Look for possible iconic moves in things that are widely known and regularly encountered, yet small enough to create cheap and quick effects.  

• Stakeholder map 

Build a detailed stakeholder map of the business leaders with whom you could partner. Nurture this network by sharing knowledge and empowering them.

• Communicate strategic intent 

Colleagues must understand what you want to achieve. This also provides freedom for others to provide input and collaborate on how to get there together.  

• Make the team look good 

When selecting quick wins, focus on accomplishments that would make the entire team look good. Work with the team to brainstorm collective quick wins.