Solution Infatuation: Why Your First Good Idea Might Be the Worst One

Have you ever noticed how the first “great idea” in a transformation meeting quickly becomes sacred? Once it’s voiced, planning begins, budgets are allocated, and curiosity often fades away. This phenomenon is known as solution infatuation.

While it may seem like momentum, it’s really early commitment masquerading as confidence. At Rainman Advisory, we frequently observe this dynamic between the Creativity and Clarity phases of change. The eagerness to move forward can overshadow the essential discipline needed to test, measure, and challenge assumptions.

The most effective teams take a different approach:

– Run a quick pre-mortem: Imagine your brilliant idea failed spectacularly in 12 months. What went wrong?
– Prototype two or three variations: The winning concept is rarely the first one generated.
– Ask, “Would we still choose this if we had to live with the consequences?”

Transformation is not about selecting the fastest idea; it’s about validating the right one before becoming too attached. Curiosity consistently outperforms conviction.