How to Demystify the Road to Change

What to do against boring corporate strategy sessions that lead to nothing but a worse feeling than the status quo? Applying what to learn in this practical business book with cliffhangers that reads like a page turner.

“Demystifying the Road to Change” from Sydney-based award winning author Karen Matthews helps organisations to turn around their situation from planning to implement so that their dreams of business success come true.

A workshop in form of a book

Within countless books on the theoretical aspects of change management, Karen brings a workshop character into her book which is based on her experience from leading organisations as CEO for more than a decade. No surprise that she was recognised with awards such as the PC National Franchise Woman of the Year or the Telstra NSW Businesswoman of the Year.

Many of us have attended typical strategy sessions in executive floors and elegant board rooms where protagonists avoided digging into the root causes and participants rolled their eyes assuming nothing will come out of it. That’s why Karen’s book is designed to be a completely different type of instrument: a strategy workshop designed for small and mid-sized organisations that sits in the middle of a reality check and plan implementation.

From reality to implementation

Karen structured her book in three parts with the strategy workshop in the middle. Part one (“Reality Check”) captures the heart, head and heartbeat of the organisation including the leader across the first five chapters. The gathered set of information – documented in a series of templates and worksheets – will be used for the mentioned two-day workshop. Her practical approach is written as a blueprint to conduct in an inclusive, participative way towards an outcome.

Part two (“Decide & Act”) turns input and outcome of the workshop into the next level by writing the plan – and implementing it. The three chapters support the organisation’s leader to decide what to change, to write their plan – and then to commit, lead and execute.

Sure, creating winning plans doesn’t work on a blank sheet of paper (and best not to ask ChatGPT for it). Therefore she added examples of known brands like LEGO during challenging times of needed turnaround.

Following the content of this book, a new one-page business plan becomes reality within just two days with suggestions on how to implement it and keep on track alongside the change journey. The third part therefore covers how to make it stick and build a fluid planning process into the DNA of the business. Even after a successful turnaround organisations must reinvent to stay relevant.

Useful quotes out of the book

The clarity of her language outside of corporate jargon and fluff includes a range of remarkable quotes that stand by themselves. My favourite sets the scene (“Being 100% clear in your purpose – the reason you exist – is the starting point.”). The second one remembers the core focus (“Unless you understand your customer, you don’t stand a chance of connecting with them.”). And the third quote captures the required alignment (“If your culture and people are not aligned to the values and strategy of the business, then you are sabotaging your efforts.”).

Inspiration for fellow writers

Karen added a range of elements in her book a future author can learn from. The first visible element is the clarity in the table of content. Especially in a book about change visual guidance is needed, Karen’s choice of fonts, sizes and emphasis helps to take the reader on the agenda of that road to change. Very useful is also the list of templates and checklists throughout the book from evergreen SWOT to implementation plan templates. The mix of bold headlines and clear body text makes reading and running workshops a pleasure.

Final verdict

And here we have it: following the described road to change helps make your business dreams a reality covering a holistic approach. If you want to go through a change curve and come out better than where you are at the moment, this book is for you.