Many leaderships teams staring down the barrel of organizational transformation face a similar dilemma: How do you take a leap into the unknown when there are no clear data, no well-trodden path to follow, and no assurance of success? What if the change you’re considering is uncharted territory, but waiting for certainty means standing still?

Over the years, we’ve seen countless organizations struggle with these questions, whether they’re trying to flatten hierarchies, implement new processes, or change how decisions are made. Through our five-year study of a company we’ll call by the pseudonym Pharma Global (PG), we uncovered key insights into how executive teams can deftly navigate a high-stakes and uncertain transformation and move forward with conviction.

Trap 1: Overthinking the leap

Like its competitors, PG had long relied on a few blockbuster drugs. But by the 2010s, as a major acquisition expanded its R&D pipeline, its commercial team was managing an increasingly complex and expansive portfolio.

 …