Technology doesn't transform organizations - people do. In an era of technological and constant change, companies are bombarded with urgent advice to become more agile, lean and digital. Billions are spent on digital transformation efforts with the promise that these efforts will increase competitive advantage. Yet even when only 30 percent of these efforts succeed, this hard-won competitive advantage only lasts until the next disruption before the cycle repeats, causing transformation fatigue. The Heart of Transformation breaks this cycle by suggesting that the pace and complexity of change is too great and too complex to be addressed by a single change effort or transformation. The answer lies in the organization's greatest asset: its people. In the face of complexity, it is the people and their ability to adapt and learn that are the true engine of organizational change. The Heart of Transformation outlines the six human capabilities (Exploring before Executing, Learning before Knowing, Pathfinding before Path Following, Changing before Protecting, Innovating before Replicating and Humanizing before Organizing) that create competitive advantage for organizations organically, quickly and from the bottom up. The book translates those capabilities into simple and immediately adoptable behaviors for leaders and every person in the organization. It offers a new standard for organizational excellence, one that is dependent on the organization's ability to be deeply human. Instead of offering another one-size-fits-all solution, The Heart of Transformation reveals that by leveraging our most human of capabilities, organizations can change better, faster and achieve excellence much quicker than imagined. "The Heart of Transformation does beautifully what so many books on change management and leadership fail to do: bring the human element to front and center. Change is not an abstract process that occurs in systems; it is an intensely human process that begins in the change agents themselves and comes to involve all the members of an organization personally. While we take this for granted, it takes a book like this to show us how it works in detail." ― Edgar Schein, Professor Emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management; Chairman of the Organizational Culture and Leadership Institute "If you've ever felt alone in your enthusiasm for helping people embrace a digital world, you need to meet Michael Leckie . Drawing on a wealth of experience as a transformation leader, his passion for change leaps off the page and his advice is as encouraging as it is practical." ― Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife "Through a myriad of stories and examples, and sharing of formal and experiential knowledge and personal reflection, Michael Leckie vividly captures the formidable yet rewarding challenge of changing ourselves in order to integrate humanity and organization to thrive. He labels it 'heart', but there is a lot of 'soul' in this book as well." ― Sue Mohrman, Senior Research Scientist at the USC Marshall Center for Effective Organizations "In a world that is changing more rapidly and more profoundly than predicted, The Heart of Transformation provides keen insights for leaders seeking to scale to these challenges. Michael Leckie does a terrific job of translating academic theory into actionable advice, while proving it's possible to lead with your head and your heart." ― Joe Whittinghill, Corporate Vice President, Talent, Learning and Insights at Microsoft "Change is hard, and this book is a thoughtful guide to all the amazing people who are engaged in leading it. Michael passionately shares, in a voice and vulnerability which I have come to love, a collection of heart-felt questions and insights to help you navigate your way through." ― Mohammed “Khal” Khalid, Global Advisory Director at The Leading Edge Forum "This book reminds me how insightful Michael is as a thought leader, adviser, and change agent, both in writing and in person. Michael combines a deep understanding of the human condition, business, and technology. His focus on dealing with the personal aspects of transformation, and the six capabilities we need to succeed, makes this book much more real and usable than many dry, high-level transformation frameworks. Powerful stuff." ― Dave Aron, Unthinker, Vice President and Distinguished Analyst at Gartner "It's not easy to write a book that is both simple and profound, and that tackles organizational transformation in such a personal way, but that's the magic of what Michael Leckie has done. No matter whether you're looking to change a corporation, a start-up, or a small team, you'll find both inspiration and practical advice in this book, the most important of which is to start with your own heart." ― Ron Ashkenas, Partner Emeritus, Schaffer Consulting, and co-author of the