… by clinging to the side of the pool.

At some point, if you want to learn to swim, you are going to have to leave the side of the pool and remove the safety net of being able to reach out and grab the ladder. Sure, there are steps you need to take and knowledge you need to learn before letting go but if you are ever going to learn to swim, you’ll need to just let go and give it a crack.

Business often say that they are going to transform (remember, this means a complete or extensive change) and then go all “softly softly” when the rubber hits the road. If you want to actually transform, you need to let go of the ladder and start swimming. Sure, on occasions, you’ll fall below the surface and might struggle for breath for a moment or two but until and unless you take the plunge, you’ll stay pretty much where you’ve always been.

I know taking the plunge is often blocked by corporate inertia, risk profiles and the like and therefore it is not my decision to jump in. That said, if you don’t, you won’t be going anywhere.