"Change is notoriously difficult to pull off. According to Gartner, more than half of all change initiatives fail, and only a third are genuinely successful. Why? It's probably not because the strategy, or the reasoning behind it, is wrong. It's that successful change depends on buy-in at every level, and traditional communications often fall short of inspiring and aligning people at speed.
So when it comes to delivering successful change - whether it’s a new system rollout, a company restructure, or a cultural shift - lean in to the power of visual communication, and you'll find the task a great deal easier.
"Visuals have always been our fast track to understanding. Despite this, many leaders still hesitate to bring visuals into conversations where rapid comprehension and connection to an idea are of critical importance."
From cave paintings to infographics, visuals have always been our fast track to understanding. Despite this, many leaders still hesitate to bring visuals into conversations where rapid comprehension and connection to an idea are of critical importance.
Successful change requires energy and momentum, and that can so easily be lost when communication is unclear, comprehension is cloudy and engagement isn't instant. So, it stands to reason that successful change managers put visuals at the heart of their communication strategies, ensuring they land their message with real impact and guard against the most common pitfalls.
Clarifying purpose
As a leader, can be tough to balance the need for transparency with the need not to overload your team with details that need not concern them, or need not concern them yet. To move forward, everyone needs clarity on the plan as a whole and, specifically, the part they are expected to play in it.
At Scriberia, we talk a lot about "clarity of purpose", in relation to the work we do for clients and the work we do for ourselves. We know that a lot time and effort is wasted when we are unsure why we're doing something, or what we hope to achieve by it.
For our clients, a visual overview of a complex project or process can provide a valuable touchstone for everyone involved. This "bigger picture" can capture and convey your purpose in a clear and consistent way for everyone in your organisation. And, through additional interactive content, which you can embed within the picture itself, you can allow teams to dive deeper into the details that relate to their role and responsibilities.
Ruthless prioritisation
The process itself of creating the work itself is also an incredibly effective tool for helping leaders take that step back to work out what the concepts are that people simply must understand and engage with.
A few years back, we partnered with HMPPS (Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service) on an ambitious digital transformation project. This wasn’t just about HMPPS - it involved a vast network of suppliers, government departments, charities, and external organisations. The visual we created became their ‘North Star’, a shared touchstone for everyone involved, offering clarity amidst complexity and helping every stakeholder align around a common vision.
On a project of this scale, it’s hard to overstate the significance of that alignment. The visual wasn’t just a communication tool; it became a catalyst for collaboration, progress, and ultimately, success. You can read more about it here.
A steadying force in times of change, a visual approach puts clarity and purpose at the forefront of your project, and it keeps them there throughout. Visuals can become your constant, your touchstone, your North star for collective understanding and unified action. When embedded in your change strategy, visuals offer more than just support; they create a shared vision that empowers people to move forward together with confidence."