At the start of a transformation, companies will often begin by taking stock and auditing the business. It feels sensible. Grounding. Like something “people do”. First we have to figure out where we are!

But that’s rarely the magic of an audit.

I am currently supporting a client as they conduct an audit in preparation for embarking on transformation. What impresses me about their approach is that they see the process as just as valuable—if not more valuable—than the output. It’s the process of reflection that not only pops out some “state of the business”, but sparks the mindset shift and seeds of behavior change in and of itself.

After all, weighing a pig doesn’t fatten it.