Why making complexity visible is the most underrated skill in transformation

by Neil Alderson | May 8, 2026 | Newsletter - Impact Architect

A situation I have come across many times whilst working with client teams is one where everyone can describe what’s going wrong in a process, but they can’t quite get to a shared understanding of what to do about it. Not because they lack expertise across...

Are you describing what you do, or why it matters?

by Neil Alderson | Apr 16, 2026 | Newsletter - Impact Architect

I bought a cold plunge pool last year, which quite frankly I look back on wondering what I was thinking, because the thought of jumping into ice-cold water is genuinely something that makes me want to run in the opposite direction. I didn’t buy it because I love...

Why your headcount number is different every time someone pulls it

by Neil Alderson | Apr 2, 2026 | Newsletter - Impact Architect

One of the most important processes in any business is being able to record, understand, and plan for your people. At its core, it’s a question of demand and supply: what capability does the organisation need to deliver against its goals, and what do we actually...

Why your forecast is already out of date before it reaches the business

by Neil Alderson | Mar 19, 2026 | Newsletter - Impact Architect

There’s a conversation I have been involved with many times over my career, usually triggered by why the numbers came in differently than expected, whether a management report, programme financial plan or P&L insight. The forecast, budget or plan was...

The transformation variable nobody puts on the plan

by Neil Alderson | Mar 5, 2026 | Newsletter - Impact Architect

There’s a question I find myself returning to after almost every transformation programme I’ve been involved in. The strategy was clear. The investment was real. The people were capable. And yet somewhere between the plan and the outcome, things got harder...