In the world of organisational change, failure is more common than we’d like to admit. You’ve probably heard the statistic: up to 70% of change projects fail. But why does this keep happening, despite all the resources and energy that go into these initiatives? After years of experience, I’ve come to a simple but profound realisation: most change projects fail because organisations don’t truly understand what success looks like.

It’s not about whether your people are on board or whether your plan is perfect. The truth is, the core reason for failure is much more fundamental. Without a clear, shared vision of what success looks like, you’re navigating a foggy path. And in that fog, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll lose direction.

The Traditional View of Change Failure

Let’s challenge the traditional narrative here. It’s easy to fall into the trap of blaming things like “employee resistance” or “poor communication” when a change initiative doesn’t go as planned. We’ve all heard that "change is hard” and "people resist it." But what if these are just symptoms, not the cause?

I’ve seen it time and time again; organisations set out to implement change without a clear definition of what success actually means. It’s as though the idea is simply to do change, with the assumption that things will automatically get better. But what if success isn’t as simple as that?

If you don’t understand success, how can you know whether you’ve achieved it? How do you measure progress or impact? You end up with a lot of activity, but no tangible results. That’s where failure begins.

Reframing Change: Understanding What Success Truly Looks Like

Here’s the hard truth: you will always fail at delivering change if you don’t understand what success looks like.

The first step toward overcoming failure is to get clear on your vision. Success isn’t a vague idea. It’s specific, measurable and closely tied to the goals you set out to achieve. But it doesn’t stop there. Success should be personal and deeply embedded in the context of your organisation’s unique needs, challenges and aspirations.

Ask yourself: What does success look like for us? Is it increased efficiency? Better employee engagement? A more adaptable and resilient organisation? Is it improved customer experience? Defining success in concrete terms allows you to map the path to get there and makes it much easier to track progress along the way.

Moving Beyond the Surface: What Success Requires

Here’s where many organisations fall short, they focus on the surface-level activities of change. They set up new processes, implement a new system or train employees on a new tool, but they forget the bigger picture. Success in change isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about transformation at a deeper level.

It requires alignment, alignment of your people, processes and goals. When all three are in sync, the change becomes natural, almost inevitable. When they’re not, resistance can build and momentum can stall.

A key aspect of creating real, lasting success is involving everyone from the outset. Change isn’t something that happens to people; it’s something that happens with them. You have to co-create the vision of success with your teams, making them active participants in the process, not passive recipients.

Challenging the Old Norms

In a world full of frameworks and methodologies, it’s easy to assume that success will come if you simply follow the “right” steps. But I challenge you to think beyond the traditional models. Success isn’t defined by how well you follow a plan; it’s about how well you adapt that plan to your unique context.

You can’t solve complex, multi-faceted challenges with a one-size-fits-all approach. Success in change requires a mindset shift. It’s about being adaptive and resilient enough to learn as you go. It’s about celebrating small wins along the way and adjusting your course as new insights emerge.

The Road to Success: A Journey, Not a Destination

The most important thing to remember is that transformation is a journey, not a destination. Along this journey, success is not static, it evolves. The moment you think you've “arrived” you're missing the point. The real success comes from continuously learning, adapting and improving.

This journey requires patience, persistence and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. But the key to success is staying focused on the end goal; not just the process.

So, ask yourself again: What does success look like for you?

Don’t settle for a vague or surface-level answer. Get specific, get personal and make sure you’re all on the same page. Only then can you start to navigate the complexities of change in a way that ensures you’re not only moving forward, but moving towards something meaningful.

When you redefine success, you set yourself up for a transformation that isn’t just a checkbox on a to-do list; it’s a path that leads to real, sustainable growth. The road might be challenging, but with clarity of purpose and the right mindset, success isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.