--- title: The importance of leading change in a digital economy description: How CEOs are leading change in organizations, to benefit from the challenges of automatization and digitization. image: https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/IandP_MoBT_38_Putting_digital_process_innovation_1536x1536_Original.jpg --- [![Changefirst_logo_Hubspot.png](https://blog.changefirst.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo/Changefirst_logo_Hubspot.png?width=174&height=61&name=Changefirst_logo_Hubspot.png "Changefirst_logo_Hubspot.png")](http://www.changefirst.com) [Contact us](https://changefirst.com/contact-us) [+44 (0) 1444 450777](tel:+44-0-1444-450777) [Solutions](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions) ### Solutions Change Management Solutions matched to your specific business needs. #### [![orgainizations](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/orgainizations.jpeg) For Organizations Engage more of your people in change with a cost effective and scalable solution that builds sustainable capability.](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/organisations) #### [![consulting-firms](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/consulting-firms.jpeg) For Consulting Teams Digitalize and differentiate your Change Management practice, quickly on-board new hires and create ‘sticky’ client relationships](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/consulting-firms) #### [![change professionals](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/change%20professionals.jpeg) For Change & Project Experts Deliver strategic projects, support Executives through continuous change and add new tools, skills and Certification to your playbook](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/change-and-project-professionals) #### [![technology companies](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/technology%20companies.jpeg) For Technology Companies Take advantage of the missing ingredient in your Adoption Services model. 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People - Centred Implementation Changefirst’s research-based, highly practical, results-oriented methodology, for planning and executing the people-side of change, to achieve sustainable organisational results](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies/pci) #### [![pai](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/pai.jpeg) PAI – Personal Adaptability Inventory PCI® People-Centred Implementation Changefirst’s proprietary psychometric, with development system, help leaders and their teams develop resilience and adaptability for change](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies/pai) [Resources](https://www.changefirst.com/resources) ### Resources All the resources you need to help build your Change Management capability. #### [![resources](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/resources.jpeg) Whitepapers Download our latest Change Management whitepapers.](https://www.changefirst.com/resources) #### [![videos](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/videos.jpeg) Videos Watch our latest Change Management videos.](https://www.changefirst.com/resources#videos) #### [![blog](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/blog.jpeg) Blogs Read our latest Change Management blogs.](https://blog.changefirst.com/) [About us](https://www.changefirst.com/about-us) [Contact](https://www.changefirst.com/contact-us) Solutions [For Organizations](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/organisations) [For Consulting Teams](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/consulting-firms) [For Change & Project Experts](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/change-and-project-professionals) [For Technology Companies](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-solutions/technology-companies) [Drive up adoption](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/drive-up-adoption) [Deliver projects more succcessfully](https://www.changefirst.com/deliver-projects-more-successfully) [Build ECM capability](https://www.changefirst.com/build-ECM-capability) [Quickly upskilling your teams](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/upskilling-of-teams) [Develop an agile change culture](https://www.changefirst.com/business-issues/agile-change-management) Products [Roadmap Pro® - digital OCM platform](https://www.changefirst.com/change-management-products/roadmap-pro) Training [Leaders, Heads of Business & Steering Teams](https://www.changefirst.com/training/executive) [Change, Project and Internal development professionals](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-agent) [Line Managers, local teams, HRBPs & Communication Experts](https://www.changefirst.com/training/manager-and-local-teams) [Employees, large groups & accidental/new change agents](https://www.changefirst.com/training/on-demand-individual) [Project and Programme Managers (Introductory)](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-projects-introductory) [Project and Programme Managers (Intermediate)](https://www.changefirst.com/training/change-projects-intermediate) [Train-the-Trainer](https://www.changefirst.com/training/train-the-trainer) [Content licensing](https://www.changefirst.com/training/content-licensing) [Certification](https://www.changefirst.com/training/certification) [Application Coaching and Consulting](https://www.changefirst.com/training/application-coaching-and-consulting) Methodologies [PCI® - People - Centred Implementation](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies/pci) [PAI – Personal Adaptability Inventory PCI®](https://www.changefirst.com/methodologies/pai) Resources [Whitepapers](https://www.changefirst.com/resources) [Videos](https://www.changefirst.com/resources#videos) [Blogs](https://blog.changefirst.com/) [About us](https://www.changefirst.com/about-us) [Contact](https://www.changefirst.com/contact-us) # [Welcome to the Changefirst Blog](https://blog.changefirst.com) # The importance of leading change in a digital economy Posted by [David Miller](https://blog.changefirst.com/author/david-miller) ![IandP_MoBT_38_Putting_digital_process_innovation_1536x1536_Original.jpg](https://blog.changefirst.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/IandP_MoBT_38_Putting_digital_process_innovation_1536x1536_Original.jpg?width=1065&name=IandP_MoBT_38_Putting_digital_process_innovation_1536x1536_Original.jpg "IandP_MoBT_38_Putting_digital_process_innovation_1536x1536_Original.jpg") The world as we know is continually changing. Being on the front foot and proactively leading your organization in an ever changing business landscape is becoming one of the key challenges for the C-suite. Enterprise Change Management (ECM) is no longer a nice to have, it’s become a necessity. In a recent [McKinsey Round](http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/leadership/leading-in-the-digital-age) table, which notably included Bloomberg chairman Peter Grauer and Nadir Mohamed (the recently retired CEO of Rogers Communications), the issues around how to lead in a world that is becoming increasingly automated and digitized was the topic of conversation. **The challenge is keeping up with the speed of change** The discussion highlighted that automation in one form or another has been around for a while and is not in itself the significant change we are seeing. The challenge today is the speed of change organizations are facing; often brought around by digital disrupters, leaving the rest of us to scramble and catch up. In addition, the discussion emphasized that the leadership challenge arises where there is an intersection of automation and changing business models, and especially as automation is increasingly about reconfiguration, transformation and disruption. **The leadership challenge** Whereas previously change in the organization was often a long time in preparation, today’s norm is change at an increasingly rapid pace. The key challenges for leaders identified by the roundtable included: - Getting the organization to change at a fast enough pace - Framing the change in a positive light - Leading change as a team – it is not purely the CEO’s job to lead change however the CEO's active support of the change is essential - Getting the organization to embrace the “looming” change, and maintain that commitment to change - Confronting corporate obesity – fighting the often inherent slowness and resistance to change in larger incumbent organisations. Gaining and then maintaining commitment through change is a significant challenge for leaders. Research shows that most organizations end up with under a third of people actually committed to any change. People may be using new systems, processes and structures associated with change, but their ownership, and responsibility for continuous improvement, is not guaranteed. Maintaining that commitment to embed changes and keep the organization moving forward, while potentially starting a new wave of change, is no small feat. Leading change is no longer a “sometimes” activity for leaders. It is part of the inherent way of working and organizations that are not able to successfully implement fast changes may find themselves left behind. **Enterprise Change Management helps organizations adapt for continuous change** Being proactive and on the front foot means being able to spin up an internal change capability quickly to manage the various changes your business will face as they arise. With the rapid pace of change, organizations do not often have the time or the luxury to develop the framework under which the change will be managed. Investors look for fast returns, often within a financial year. [ECM](https://blog.changefirst.com/creating-enterprise-change-management-capabilities) is a C-suite led approach to change where the whole organization is prepared with the skills, tools and infrastructure ready to deliver change at the pace, and with the success rates required. Having the framework already in place, such as: - Core staff trained - Training on-hand, ready to roll-out to extended team members - Change project management and control methodology - Risk management and critical success factors identified and baselined - Communication and collaboration platform - Expert help... ... all at hand ready to “go” gives organizations the edge in delivering quick and successful change, while maintaining the momentum and employee engagement to drive through business results. **Ramp up quickly with Changefirst’s Roadmap Pro platform** Accessible within 48 hours, Roadmap Pro provides you with a one-stop-shop, change management framework and methodology. Roadmap Pro can help you quickly enable your organization to implement change successfully, and build an ECM approach within your organization. Click below to request a demo of [Roadmap Pro](https://www.changefirst.com/product/roadmappro) and learn more about how we will help you develop a world class enterprise change management system. ### [![Request a demo](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/2401974/8511d7ab-31d0-4b0a-a4b7-a3fd8e69e8c1.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/2401974/8511d7ab-31d0-4b0a-a4b7-a3fd8e69e8c1) ![David Miller](https://blog.changefirst.com/hubfs/David%20200x200.png) Posted by [David Miller](https://blog.changefirst.com/author/david-miller) David Miller is the Chairman and Founder of Changefirst, a global training and consulting organisation which specialises in Organisational Change Management. He has helped organisations successfully implement major change for the last 25 years. Initially as a Senior Executive for American Express and more recently with clients ranging from HSBC, BT, Roche Pharmaceuticals and The Linde Group. David was a regular speaker at a range of Change and Transformation events globally on key industry themes including Agile Change Management and the use of digital in Change Management. Find me on: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-miller-changefirst/) Tags: [change management](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/change-management), [change](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/change), [Enterprise Change Management](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/enterprise-change-management), [Leadership](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/leadership), [leading change](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/leading-change), [ecm](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/ecm), [c-suite](https://blog.changefirst.com/topic/c-suite) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Leave a comment Search Blog ### Keep me updated ### Recent Posts ### SHARE THE BLOG ### Posts by Tag [![](https://changefirst.com/images/Icons/Social_LI.svg)](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/changefirst) [![](https://changefirst.com/images/Icons/Social_TW.svg)](https://twitter.com/Changefirst) [![](https://changefirst.com/images/Icons/Social_VM.svg)](https://vimeo.com/changefirst) [![](https://changefirst.com/images/Icons/Social_FB.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/Changefirst-129807110363683/) [Website T&Cs](https://info.changefirst.com/website-tcs)    |     [Security Policy](https://info.changefirst.com/security-statement)    |     [Privacy Policy](https://info.changefirst.com/privacy-policy)    |     [Cookie Policy](https://info.changefirst.com/cookie-policy)