Why transformation needs a new muscle
Transformation has become constant, but few organisations have built the stamina to sustain it.
In this episode of Transformation 2.0®, Tony Antonios shares insights from leading large-scale change across telecommunications and healthcare, two industries defined by regulation, risk, and complexity.
His message is clear: transformation isn’t a one-time event. It’s a muscle that must be trained. And that training starts with clarity, adaptability, and engagement, from day zero.
Most organisations focus on strategy. But the real differentiator is execution.
The question isn’t whether you can plan for change, it’s whether your teams can live it, lead it, and repeat it.
What’s broken in traditional transformation
Even the best-funded transformation programs often fall short. It’s not the frameworks that fail – it’s the assumptions behind them.
Here’s where most organisations go wrong:
- Starting with the solution, not the problem. Platform decisions are often made before needs are understood.
- Treating change as a phase, not a philosophy. Engagement begins too late, after the business case is signed.
- Focusing on process over purpose. Transformation becomes about compliance instead of clarity.
- Measuring outputs, not outcomes. Activity gets confused with impact.
In complex industries like healthcare, these mistakes multiply, because change affects not just systems, but people’s safety, wellbeing, and livelihoods.
What successful transformation leaders do differently
The leaders who deliver lasting change take a fundamentally different approach:
- Align on a clear North Star
Transformation must start with shared purpose and measurable outcomes — not just a list of projects. - Use the right tool for the right job
There’s no one-size-fits-all methodology. Agility means adapting your approach to the context, risk, and scale. - Embed engagement from day zero
People need to be part of the conversation before a plan is drafted. Change lands when it’s co-created, not announced. - Balance efficiency with empathy
Especially in healthcare, transformation must improve experience for both clinicians and patients. Technology should enable compassion, not compete with it. - Measure what matters
Combine quantitative and qualitative indicators — cost, safety, experience, and trust — to see the full picture of impact.
Where transformation leaders often struggle
Even the most capable transformation teams can stall when they:
- Inherit technology decisions without stakeholder input
- Underestimate the power of organisational culture
- Treat “resistance” as opposition rather than feedback
- Overlook the need for sustained capability building
Tony calls this gap change fatigue without change stamina.
Resilience helps you survive transformation. Stamina helps you sustain it.
How to build transformation muscle memory
If you’re driving large-scale change — in healthcare or any regulated sector — start here:
- Design for adaptability, not perfection.
Your strategy should evolve as fast as your environment does. - Prioritise systems thinking.
Map how decisions in one part of the organisation affect others. - Create early wins that matter.
Demonstrate value through visible outcomes — not reports. - Invest in transformation capability.
Build portfolio management and value realisation as core disciplines, not side functions. - Develop change stamina.
Help teams build endurance through clarity, feedback, and trust.
Conclusion
Transformation isn’t just about shifting structures or systems – it’s about rewiring how people think, act, and collaborate.
As Tony reminds us, “Change management starts from day zero.”
The organisations that thrive won’t be those that avoid discomfort – but those that learn to perform through it.
Because transformation success isn’t built on strategy alone.
It’s built on transformation muscle memory.
🎧 Listen to Episode 14 of Transformation 2.0®:
“Transformation Muscle Memory – Leading Change Across Healthcare, Telco and Beyond”
