Why change quietly fails

Did you know that around 70% of transformation initiatives fail or fall short of their goals?

That number is uncomfortable, but not surprising.

Change rarely fails because the strategy was bad. More often, it breaks down after the presentation ends, when people quietly return to working the old way.

Law and consulting firms know this pattern well. A new process is introduced, everyone agrees it makes sense, but then daily work takes over.

That is the real crack in the iceberg.

Which brings me to a small book recommendation: Our Iceberg Is Melting by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber.

It is a short business fable about a penguin colony living on an iceberg they assume is stable. One penguin, Fred, notices cracks before everyone else does. But seeing the problem is only the first step. The harder part is bringing others along before it is too late.

That is why I like the book for lawyers and consultants. It makes change feel simple without making it feel easy. In firms, the harder question isn’t whether to change, but who must behave differently for it to work.

So, before your next initiative, ask one group this: “What would you be worried about, or risk losing, if you fully committed to this tomorrow?”

That one question will tell you more than another rollout meeting. Change is not an announcement. It is adoption, behavior, and repetition.

And sometimes, the smartest thing you can do is notice the cracks early.

Best,
Anja Kreutzahler
CEO & Founder of peakleap

P.S. Our Iceberg Is Melting is a quick read, but the message stays with you. Especially if you have ever watched a “successful rollout” quietly disappear by week three.