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Salt & Light Case-Style Insights

Updated: Oct 28

Editorial Note

Case-Style Insights are designed to bring real-world scenarios into focus — not abstract theories. Each entry distills a transformation challenge into actionable insights that leaders can immediately apply in their own context.


When Alignment Exists on Paper, but Not in Practice

The gap between executive sign-off and operational reality.


The Case

A national health system launched a large-scale transformation with unanimous executive approval. PowerPoints were polished, timelines were green, and kickoff energy was high. Yet within weeks, cracks emerged: mid-level managers quietly resisted, frontline staff were unclear about their roles, and resource bottlenecks slowed momentum.


On paper, the organization was aligned. In practice, alignment had not translated into execution.


Key Insights

  • Approval ≠ Alignment: Executive consensus is a starting point, not an end state. True alignment is tested in execution.

  • Middle Management as Gatekeepers: Resistance often shows up not at the top or bottom, but in the middle layers that translate strategy into action.

  • The Visibility Gap: Dashboards and scorecards can’t capture sentiment, trust, or confidence — yet those are the very drivers of transformation.


What Leaders Can Do Now

  1. Validate Beyond the Room — After major approvals, test alignment in smaller forums with managers and frontline voices.

  2. Watch the Middle — Equip mid-level leaders with clarity, not just directives. They are the leverage point for execution.

  3. Measure What Matters — Track cultural readiness and trust as closely as you track timelines and budgets.


Closing Note

Every transformation looks aligned in the boardroom. The leaders who succeed are those who ask: How will this alignment hold up under real pressure? That’s the difference between a plan that lives on paper and a transformation that thrives in practice.


Call-to-Action

Explore how Salt & Light uses Case-Style Insights to uncover hidden risks before they derail execution. Learn more here.


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