Reality presents itself through measurable outcomes and verifiable data when implementing systems or optimising processes. The financial services firm that implements a banking system where clear metrics and systematic testing create a solid foundation for change. 

Cultural transformation thrives when we recognise that meaning emerges through collective understanding. The health care organisation’s journey toward a patient-centered care model. Success emerged when they created space for people to collectively redefine their approach to patient care, acknowledging that cultural reality is co-created through shared experience. 

Some transformations require us to examine and reshape fundamental structures. A technology company’s diversity initiatives gained momentum when it recognised how seemingly neutral practices shaped organisational reality. By examining deeper structures, it created pathways for authentic inclusion. 

The pragmatist approach serves as a vital bridge between theoretical frameworks and practical outcomes. This perspective acknowledges that reality emerges through action and experience, focusing on what works in context rather than adhering to rigid philosophical positions. In transformation work, pragmatism enables leaders to flex between different approaches based on real-world feedback and outcomes. It’s particularly powerful when dealing with complex transformations that span technical, cultural and structural domains.