Transformation Fatigue: Portfolio Thinking for Transformations: What to Do First, Next, and Never

2 min read
April 9, 2026
Transformation Fatigue: Portfolio Thinking for Transformations: What to Do First, Next, and Never
Transformation Fatigue: A Highberg webinar series on what it is, why it happens, and how to combat it.

 

The strain of another transformation
It’s been a few months since the announcement. The company is heading in a new direction and—just like that—the transformation cycle begins again. Two departments are merging, new ways of working are needed, a digital strategy is reshaping the management team, and priorities are shifting across the board.
At first there’s a spark of energy. But as the weeks go by, the pressure mounts: daily work continues, expectations keep changing, and new initiatives arrive at an overwhelming pace. That’s when transformation fatigue starts to creep in. 

The symptoms we all feel
A decline in energy and engagement is often the first sign. Momentum becomes harder to sustain. Productivity drops and execution slows as teams try to implement yet another new process or system. Cynicism grows—“How many more times are we going to do this?”—and uncertainty increases. Over time, people disengage, and the transformation loses traction. 

Why does transformation fatigue set in?
Fatigue is rarely about one initiative. It’s the accumulation. Change is often handled in siloes, creating fragmentation and confusion. Too many shifts at once—combined with changing priorities—can blur what success actually looks like. New leadership brings new ideas, but without consistent direction and credible sponsorship, teams feel like they’re constantly restarting. And when projects feel ad hoc or don’t deliver tangible results, confidence drops. On a personal level, work is continuously disrupted, with no clear link between the transformation and the day-to-day reality of people’s roles. Without a clear “why” and practical support to adopt new ways of working, motivation diminishes—and change struggles to stick.

Webinar series

We host a short, concrete webinar series for leaders, change agents, and digital transformation teams navigating change in a fast-moving environment. This webinar series brings leaders and change professionals together to openly discuss transformation fatigue. By sharing real experiences and practical insights. This is intentionally an intimate, interactive series—designed for conversation, questions, and sharing real experiences with peers (not a one-way broadcast).

The webinar is hosted by Highberg consultants Reinier Kersbergen and Fiona Munshi.

 

Reinier Kersbergen
Reinier Kersbergen

Senior Consultant

Reinier is Senior Consultant at Highberg and holds a master’s degree in business administration. With a strong belief that there is always room for improvement, Reinier is…
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Fiona Munshi
Fiona Munshi

Senior Consultant

Fiona is a Senior Consultant at Highberg and has an MSC in Economics from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Fiona has extensive experience in leading large-scale…
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Episode 1

In the first episode “Portfolio Thinking for Transformations: What to Do First, Next, and Never.” we discussed how to strengthen alignment and storytelling so change feels meaningful and actionable.

 

If you missed the session, you can still access the recording. Please fill in the form below to receive it.

 

Get the webinar recording from episode 1 here:

 

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