Why business transformation is a lot like scuba diving

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Taking the plunge requires practice, collaboration and courage.

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Why should you spend 7 minutes reading this blog?

• You’ll discover that when you push through fear, the view is pretty special. 
• It’s written by someone with a proven track record in helping businesses return to sustainable growth.
• You might be inspired to gear up and get in the water.

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There’s something special about the ocean. In particular, exploring beneath its surface. I was 18 when I first fell in love with scuba diving. I spent weeks training and practicing in a pool with an instructor. Then, when it was time for my first ocean dive, I put on a heap of strange, heavy gear and headed out with my fellow newbies. I was nervous as hell but when I entered the water, everything fell into place. All the work, study and coaching paid off as I explored a magnificent new world bursting with colour, life and movement. I was hooked. 

Since that first dive 15 years ago, I’ve dived all over the world and become a Master Scuba Diver Trainer and instructor with Project AWARE, a non-profit ocean and marine conservation organisation. When I’m not guiding multinational businesses through transformation projects, you’ll find me swapping my suit for a wetsuit and heading for the water. 

I was recently pondering why I have such an affinity for both business transformation and scuba diving. I realised that, while not obvious at first glance, they have a fair bit in common. 

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You’ve got to feel the fear and do it anyway.

As you approach that first open water dive, there’s an overriding fear of the unknown punctuated with doubts – What if I forget what to do? What if I stuff up? What if things don’t go to plan? When you enter the water, you leave behind the comfort of familiarity and enter a previously unexplored world. It’s pretty daunting at first. 

The fact that change is the one constant in life doesn’t make a business transformation journey any less scary. It can be both terrifying and exciting for you and your employees. Engaging the external guidance and support of someone who specialises in business turnarounds and transformations can alleviate the fear of the unknown. Knowing that you’ve done all your due diligence, helps you take the plunge with confidence. 

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Sometimes the path ahead will be crystal clear, and sometimes it won’t.

On some dives, the water is crystal clear and you can see 70 feet in front of you. On other dives, the water is so murky you can’t see further than 10. Ocean visibility is affected by a range of factors including the current, water salinity and temperature. 

Navigating a complex business transformation can be unpredictable. While you have to plan carefully and take a strategic approach, you also have to remain nimble enough to adapt to the changing landscape. If something isn’t delivering value, engineer a solution in partnership with your people. It’ll help you clear your path and keep your team moving in the right direction.

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You have to develop a common and effective way of communicating. 

As a scuba diver, you have to use specific hand signals to communicate with your instructor and fellow divers when underwater. The signals have to be understood by everyone and performed with confidence, consistency and clarity. 

As a business transformation and turnaround coach, I work with organisations to develop a common language around their transformation project. This common language helps the transformation team communicate progress as well as challenges while aiding collaboration and boosting productivity. 

For example, one organisation I know refers to addressing niggling concerns as “fixing the pebbles in the shoe” while at McKinsey we refer to big tasks or topics in need of prioritisation as our “big rocks” and work together to align and address them. 

You have to support the wellbeing of others and navigate challenges as a team.

When you start scuba diving, you’re assigned a dive buddy. The buddy system enhances your safety underwater by ensuring you have someone to rely on. During the dive, you and your buddy have to support one another and navigate challenges as they arise. For example, if your buddy runs out of air, you have to share your air with them to ensure you both able to complete the dive safely. 

A key component of a successful business transformation is prioritising the safety and wellbeing of your people as well as knowing how to effectively navigate roadblocks when they arise. Like diving, it helps if you have a set procedure to follow when things go wrong. Because they will. It’s how you address and move past the challenges that will give you a competitive edge. 

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If you get it right, the results will astound you.

Beneath the ocean surface is quiet world of weightlessness where you get to encounter unparalleled beauty, pure connection and a deep sense of satisfaction. When you experience that world in all its natural glory, you’re grateful for all every minute you spent preparing. You’re calm. You’re in control. You’re moving forward with confidence and momentum. You’re fulfilling the goal you set for yourself and the pay-off is beyond your expectations. 

A business transformation requires a huge investment of time, focus and skills development. Like most things in life, you reap what you sow. By following a holistic, people-centric framework and resisting the urge to cut corners, you’ll give yourself the best chance of success. You’ll not only grow as a leader, you’ll get to ignite a whole new era of business growth. And the view will be pretty darn spectacular.

Whether it’s leading a business transformation or learning to scuba dive, exploring a new world can be exciting and scary. Diligent preparation, expert guidance and taking care of others will make your experience positive, enriching and ultimately successful.