Sep19
When organizations talk about transformation, the conversation usually starts with confidence. A new leader arrives with a proven playbook: the framework that “saved” their last company, the process that “delivered results” before, the structure that once “transformed everything.”
Copy. Paste. Execute.
But here’s what often gets skipped: understanding why this place is different.
Because in the urgency to deliver results, context feels like a delay. Listening feels like overthinking. Quick wins feel like progress. And so, leaders fall into what I call “Solution Importing.”
Solution Importing happens when leaders bring answers to questions they never asked. It’s the act of applying yesterday’s solutions to today’s problems without considering the ground reality.
And it fails every time.
Solutions don’t solve the real problems.
People resist because they weren’t heard.
Short-term gains create long-term damage.
Transformation isn’t about replication. Context, culture, and constraints matter. When these are ignored, even the best ideas become mismatched.
People don’t resist change itself.
They resist being ignored.
And when employees feel their voice doesn’t matter, they disengage not just from the project, but from the leadership driving it.
Transformation leaders who succeed do something different:
They spend time in the mess before trying to clean it up.
They ask more questions than they answer.
They understand before they implement.
Not because it’s faster.
But because it lasts.
Context isn’t the enemy of speed.
It’s the foundation of success.
Instead of asking:
“How do I apply what worked before?”
Ask:
“What is unique about this organization that changes how solutions must be designed?”
Because transformation isn’t about moving faster.
It’s about building systems that can stand the test of time.
And that difference determines whether your change disappears in five months - or survives the next five years.
Keywords: Leadership, Change Management, Transformation
The Corix Partners Friday Reading List - September 19, 2025The Hidden Trap of Transformation: Why “Solution Importing” Always Fails
The Human Twilight and the Dawn of Intelligence: A Future Awaiting
The Electrification of Everything: Why Energy Transition Is Hard, and Why Delay Isn’t an Option
Prediction Is a Trap. Preparation Is Power.
