What ‘Translation’ Really Means

This one’s a bit different. This one is a reply to one of the questions I’ve been answering in the background, to which I thought, “I’ll answer it here instead for all to digest”.

[I will do this more and more moving forward so please feel free to shoot over any questions, thoughts, or queries you may have on all things CTO]

The Question

“Rob, when you say you translate, what do you actually mean?”

For me, translation is not about language. It’s not just simplifying jargon. It’s about translating the true intent of what someone, some businesses, some programmes or some initiatives, actually want.

What the ‘Want’ is- at the start, during the process, and after it’s done (delivered).

I will be doing another article on how to help people understand the ‘Want’ better later in the series, but for now, taking that ‘Want’, and turning it into:

• A common and easily understood objective for all,
• Applying a shaped set of key results, using differing tones and honest drivers that matter to the different audiences (software, data, infrastructure, product, change, etc),
• And gluing them all together, aiming towards the same outcome,

….is what I mean by translation.

Taking a companies board outcomes for the year, shaping it into objectives, breaking it into key results, targeting them key results into the right ownership pots, explaining and painting the scenes in a way these audiences 100% understand their role and responsibility in the mix and then to reverse this communication backwards back out to the board again, seamlessly, humanly…

…is how translation comes to life.

For me, translation is where you start, before it starts.

When it’s done properly, it leads to something much deeper. It connects strategy to belief. It makes sure people are not just told what’s happening, but understand why it matters…

However, I’m running away with myself here and stealing content from a later edition!

So here’s a real example. The original question (What does translation mean?), but with the example of another huge topic right now- ADOPTION.

And what it means for people to be ready to receive change.

Translation of Adoption- the parts.

My business cards have said many things over the years, all related to tech in some way, shape, or form. Tech delivery, tech strategy, tech leadership, tech design, tech transformation, or like.

Now I’m not sure any of them were enough for what I believe truly matters today.

It’s clear to me now, more than ever, that most of the real work isn’t in the stack.

It’s in the story. It’s in the purpose. It’s in the belief.

It’s in making sure that when it lands, people are actually ready to receive it.

“People are actually ready to receive it.”….. hmm, there’s a phrase.

Let’s take a second to delve deeper into that sentence. Two key words specifically- READY and RECEIVE.

These are two of the most powerful words in real-world adoption. Adoption of any impactful change if I’m being honest, technical or not. However, with today’s rate of technical advancement, thoughtful adoption towards the humans using the tech is a must.

Translation of Adoption- the meaning of the parts.

People are actually ready to receive it.

Let’s start with the latter in the sentence…

RECEIVE.

‘Receive’ means they are aware (the story), they understand the why (the purpose), they have had a chance to digest the process, envisage the potential, imagine the action, and feel its use (belief). This means that when it happens, any or all resistance has been removed. All questions, queries, and worries have been addressed as much as possible. You, or the business, have done your utmost to ensure the humans are prepared.

Now, READY.

‘Ready’ means more than the five letters it’s made of. It means that the people, the communities, the groups, the business as a whole, including its customers, are prepared for it to happen now. The ‘receive’ preparation has been carried out to the best of everyone’s ability, and the humans are expecting the change. More than expecting. If the ‘receive’ has been done well, then the humans are now wanting to receive the change because they’ve imagined it working before it even hits the ground. That’s what ready means to me.

Here’s the secret

Earlier, I said let’s take a second to delve deeper. In truth, what I’ve just described is still quite high-level. Some of you reading this will already know everything I’ve outlined. Some of you will think, yes, if I paused to reflect, I’d say the same. And some may not have the time, experience, or need to explore what feels like a simple concept from this angle.

This is something I’ve done for some time. Not something I’ve invented. Not a new concept to badge as my own. But simply translating the want. Taking what technical project teams, sponsors, delivery leads, and execs with real intent- talk about every day, and bridging the gap to what the rest of the humans in the business actually need to understand.

“Most of the real work isn’t in the stack. It’s in the story.”

A simple pause and rethink on two small words can colour the whole room with clarity. It can shift how people think about what’s needed for change to land properly, and more importantly, for it to stick. Then they start thinking about how to translate that change specifically to their environment.

How to shape it for their business and how to make it work for their people.

This little pause and this thoughtful, human approach, then opens the flood gates to questions and ideas…

Bonus Points

There’s a hidden gem in getting the translation right. If you do, it starts feeding your delivery strategy too.

Not the strategy behind the reason for the change, but the strategy that makes sure the impact is minimised, mitigated, and managed. The kind that supports everyone. The delivery team that is landing the change. The business colleagues who are absorbing the change impact (The humans who are doing the work). And not to mention the customers who feel the benefit.

Do I need to mention belief-building? Or are you already starting to connect the dots and see how this all fits together?

To close the question.

If you get the early steps right with the translation- the preparation, the positioning (the ‘Ready to Receive’), and the delivery strategy, all build naturally.

Meaning the belief, which is the true crux in adoption, happens all on its own.

This is the kind of work I focus on through The Human CTO. Helping leaders and organisations turn complexity into clarity, and making sure change doesn’t just land- it lasts….

…And it starts with Translation.

Thanks for reading.

Please send me directly any questions you may have thought of from either this or past articles in the ‘Beyond The Title’ series, to: rob@thehumancto.co.uk

Or, alternatively, if you need a service like this, please explore the site and book in a virtual coffee intro using the site’s booking system: thehumancto.co.uk/our-services

#BeyondTheTitle #TheHumanCTO #Translation #Adoption #Clarity #Belief #ChangeLeadership