Guest post by Declan Goodman, Digital Mythology. Helping leaders make sense of digital transformation through story, myth and meaning
After nearly 30 years working in digital transformation across different cultures, I have learned that digital transformation success is less about technology and more about people. While digital transformation is concerned with technology and how it can enable business outcomes, the most transformative element is not the tech, it’s the people.
How Mythology can help with Digital Transformation
Many digital transformations struggle not because of the tech, but because the story behind it is unclear. Technology professionals often use frameworks, capability models and technical jargon to explain transformation – which makes sense to technologists – but rarely resonates with business stakeholders. Transformation only succeeds when the story behind it speaks to the hearts and minds of the people who must live through the change. People care far less about what is going to be built or replaced, and far more about what the change will mean for them.
This is where mythology offers a practical lens. Myths are deeply human narratives that societies have used for centuries to understand transformation. They capture universal themes that help people make sense of uncertainty and imagine a different future.
The use of mythology in storytelling is not new. The film Star Wars was built on mythic structures like the classic hero’s journey and the redemption of the fallen father. Opera composers like Wagner used Norse mythology in The Ring Cycle to explore timeless themes of power, greed and downfall. Yet this approach has not quite found its way into the tech world.
This is where the real opportunity lies. Tech leaders today can harness the power of myth to frame digital transformation as a human story rather than a technical endeavour. Here are some examples of how you can use myth to tell your story of digital transformation in a more human-led way.
Example 1: How myth can help you ground your digital transformation program
Mythology has a wonderful way of teaching us the importance of perspective. In Greek myth, Apollo observes humanity from high above, judging human behaviour without fully understanding the struggles they face. It’s only when he comes down to live among humans that he grasps our reality.
This is also true for tech leaders who architect and strategise transformation roadmaps that tick the logical boxes, but overlook the lived experience of change ‘on the ground’ for stakeholders. The lesson here is that leaders must avoid becoming trapped in the ‘ivory tower’ of strategy and instead experience transformation as their stakeholders do.
Practical ways to implement this myth include leaders spending time ‘shadowing’ teams to understand their daily workflows and conducting ‘day in the life of’ workshops to see how transformation actually affects people. Just as Apollo learned that walking in the shoes of others brings perspective, tech leaders can do the same to make digital transformation grounded and real.
Example 2: How myth can help people embrace the change digital transformation will bring
Another lesson from mythology is how empathy can help us move fully into the new world by letting go of the old one. The Norse goddess Hel is the guardian between worlds, where souls pass from one world to the next, a deeply unsettling transition. She greets souls with empathy and explains that the old world is no longer right for them, they have outgrown it, and the new world is where they now belong.
This applies strongly in digital transformation. The legacy processes and systems that your stakeholders have relied upon for years will significantly change or disappear and may require changes to their expertise – leading to a sense of loss or fear. This myth reminds digital leaders that resistance to change is not a barrier, rather it is a natural human response to losing what is familiar.
Practical ways to implement this myth include communicating clearly what is going to disappear (even if controversial), inviting team feedback and demonstrating how the new landscape will make things better. Explaining that the old tech is no longer suitable for your organisation’s needs and must be ‘let go’. Just as Hel helps souls pass between worlds, tech leaders can use empathy to make digital transformation less confronting and more human.
Example 3: How myth can help give people a part to play in your digital transformation journey
One of mythology’s strongest themes is identity. In Irish myth, a hero named Lugh approaches the Tuatha Dé Danann (the fairies) to join their tribe. He explains that he has many talents including craftsmanship, wisdom and leadership. After testing him, the fairies accept him and he later becomes a hero. This myth reminds us that when people are invited to participate in change, they often excel in their own way.
This lesson is highly relevant to digital transformation. When organisations change digitally, they often reinvent who they are. Digital change shapes new ways of working, and when you invite stakeholders to play an active role in this change, you help them shape their identity in the new digital story. Instead of feeling transformation is happening ‘to’ them, they feel part of it.
Practical ways to implement this myth include helping teams understand how their roles will evolve, identifying skill pathways and inviting them to shape the new direction. Just as Lugh discovered how he could strengthen the tribe, tech leaders can help their teams discover the part they can play in the organisation’s digital future.
Mythology can make digital transformation more human by tapping into universal themes that resonate deeply with people. When you frame your transformation story this way, it becomes something people want to be part of. Apollo, Hel and Lugh will thank you for it – as will your stakeholders.
Declan Goodman
Helping leaders make sense of digital transformation through story, myth and meaning | Gartner Symposium Speaker | Founder, Digital Mythology®
Declan Goodman is a digital transformation consultant, speaker and creator of the Digital Mythology® framework, which uses mythic storytelling to help leaders explain complex change in a more human way. With nearly 30 years’ experience across digital strategy, transformation and enterprise architecture in Ireland, Europe and Australia, he hosts the Digital Mythology® podcast and delivers masterclasses on storytelling, leadership and digital transformation.
www.declangoodman.com | Socials | Digital Mythology® | [email protected]
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