Transformation is not Change -and that Changes Everything

I often see confusion between the concept of "change" and that of "transformation." Yet, they are almost radically different. Misunderstanding this distinction guarantees a tangled mess: projects that lead nowhere and clients who end up, quite reasonably, frustrated.

Reconnecting with the meaning of words and what they imply is a good starting point. This aligns with my passion: finding the right word, as only that allows for right action. Since posts should be brief, I’ll focus on just one criterion that differentiates change from transformation—though there are several.

The individual and their evolution is driven by transformation

Change comes from the outside. It is imposed, which naturally breeds resistance. And rightly so.
The worst type of change? The one that's declared to be "for your own good." It implies you know better than I do what’s best for me, and it also implies I’m foolish or backwards—neither of which is true. So, a bit of resistance can be a healthy thing.

Transformation, however, originates within. It’s part of the journey toward realizing one’s true nature. Look at what Carl Gustav Jung says about self-realization through the process of individuation, or explore the élan vital of Henri Bergson.
But if transformation comes from within, it requires access to that inner space. In a world where appearances, external validation, and social media reign alongside superficiality, this can be challenging. And yet, it’s essential.

And what about businesses?

Drawing from my experience, every company, at some point, finds itself at a crossroads, facing what could be its end. Some choose transformation, while others seek change.
Those that change decide to overhaul everything. They "erase and restart," wiping out their history and everything that once defined them. They lose the pride of the people who built them, aiming for a "fresh start" out of nothing. These are high-risk ventures. I won’t elaborate—you know examples as well as I do.

And the worst type of change in business? To my eyes, it’s when an organization’s entire management approach revolves around endless waves of change, using change as a "management tool." It’s said that a squirrel, endlessly running in its wheel, eventually goes mad. Not very productive in the long run.

The companies that transform, however, are those that reconnect with their core principles, with the original purpose that brought them into existence. They respect and reinterpret these fundamentals, these constants, to breathe new life into them. These are the businesses that survive, thrive and flourish.

After three or four paragraphs, a post goes unread, so I’ll stop here, though there’s so much more to add. Ah, just a moment—someone’s asking, is it the same for companies and civilizations? What a question!

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