On Monday I got chest pain. It got worse and wouldn’t go away.
I’m 45 (and desperately hoping I’m closer to 35) but I’m trying to look after myself. I play basketball weekly, go to Pilates regularly and I generally feel great. Strong rhythms. Good momentum.
Then… ouch.
I went to the doctor and did a bunch of tests, and got the best result possible: I’d pulled something in Pilates. I just overdid it and it turns out I don’t bounce back quite like I used to!
(When the doc called me middle-aged, I told him I was offended!)
He gave me a plan: gentle movement, ice packs, heat packs, a bit of rest… She’ll be right.
And as I was lying there feeling sorry for myself, I discovered some similarities with our digital work.
1. You can’t do everything yourself
I’m not a machine. Neither is your team. Piling every new tool, system and initiative onto already-stretched people doesn’t create transformation. It creates burnout.
2. Don’t overdo the big lifts
Trying to change everything at once is the organisational equivalent of jumping into Pilates at full intensity after months off. Pick the right moves. Build capacity gradually.
3. Know your limits and respect them
Ignoring warning signs doesn’t make them disappear. Teams tell you when something isn’t working. The tech tells you. The results tell you. The question is whether you’re listening.
4. You need an expert who knows what to look for
I didn’t Google my chest pain and self-diagnose. I saw someone who could read the signs, run the right tests, and give me a clear path forward. Digital transformation is no different. Guessing is expensive.
5. Get a plan, not just a diagnosis
Knowing what’s wrong is only half the job. What matters is the structured, sequenced plan that gets you back to full capacity without reinjuring yourself along the way.
6. Small, consistent steps beat heroic efforts
Ice pack. Gentle movement. A little bit each day. That’s how recovery works. That’s also how sustainable digital change works. Not a big bang. A steady rhythm.
The good news? I’ll be back on the basketball court in a couple of weeks.
And if your organisation is feeling a bit strained from too much change, too fast, with not enough support, that’s fixable too.
At Digital Team Coach, that’s exactly what we do: help teams find their rhythm with technology, without blowing something out in the process.
👇 Could you do with a digital health check up? Message me HEALTH and we’ll shoot you some details.