3. Transformers resist positional power

Successful change initiatives don’t require everyone, but they do need the situational leaders within the ranks.  In describing the transformation to an “Employees First” culture of the 50,000 employee multinational IT Company HCLT, CEO Vineet Nayar believes his employees fell into three distinct categories, lost souls (Zom-Bees), fence sitters and transformers.  To accomplish their transition he focused on the transformers.

These were not the happy “go along to get along” type but often those that were already a little aggravated with the current status quo.  Typically as members of the Gen X or Millennial generations this group does not respect “positional authority” but are willing to be coached by those they respect for their “personal power”.  This is a group that collaborates with everyone, shares everything, expects absolute transparency and is intolerant of multilayer bureaucracy.  Members of this group also tend to value meaning more than money and whose loyalty must be earned through action.