---
id: "quote-preserve-before-change"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["§ Four Big Mistakes"]
tags: ["change-management", "advice"]
related: ["framework-four-big-mistakes", "action-observe-90-days", "concept-founder-idiosyncrasies"]
speaker: "Authors"
speakers: ["Samantha Hellauer", "Sanja Kos", "Julie Vermoote", "Sapna Sadarangani Werner", "BJ Wright"]
quote: "Before asking “What should I change?” ask “What should I preserve?”"
sources: ["tail2"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail2"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-tail-122-leading-after-founder"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/01/leading-after-the-founder"
sourceTitle: "Leading After the Founder"
---
# Preserve Before Change

> "Before asking 'What should I change?' ask 'What should I preserve?'"

Advice for incoming successors to avoid the first of the [[framework-four-big-mistakes]] — declaring a clean slate too soon and destroying the informal processes that fueled early success. It operationalizes as the 90–120 day observation window in [[action-observe-90-days]] and requires reading [[concept-founder-idiosyncrasies]] correctly before touching them.

**Enrichment / evidence:** Consistent with organizational-culture research showing that symbols, rituals, and founder stories are core to culture and that sudden removal damages morale and identity.