Brilliance in Resilience series: Thriving amidst turbulence

Article Organizational Excellence & Transformation

European companies are coping with unprecedented challenges due to relentless global disruptions. From pandemics and geopolitical conflicts to supply chain crises and inflationary pressures, the world has become more unpredictable than ever. How can companies survive, adapt, evolve, and thrive in these turbulent times? Our Brilliance in Resilience blog series explores the answers, offering deep insights into building lasting organizational resilience.

As the world contends with a war in Europe, energy crises, inflation, and looming macro shocks like the potential for China to invade Taiwan, businesses must navigate a landscape fraught with risk. The rise of digital disruption, coupled with shifting economic interdependencies and the counterforces of nationalism, adds further complexity to this environment. This series provides a roadmap for businesses seeking to strengthen their resilience in uncertainty.

The new reality – crisis after crisis

The global landscape changed dramatically in 2020, but volatility and complexity were already rising. Models like VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) and TUNA (Turbulence, Uncertainty, Novelty, Ambiguity) capture the new normal businesses face. Strategic planning based on traditional models has become obsolete as emerging megatrends – urbanization, digitization, demographic shifts, and innovation – drive rapid change. Consumer sentiment is increasingly unpredictable, and the pace of technological disruption is unrelenting. Geoffrey West tells us in his book ‘Scale’ that companies live and die like organisms. He suggests a universal dynamic of business life cycles:

“In other words, companies’ general dynamics and overall life are effectively independent of the business sector they operate in. This strongly suggests there is a universal dynamic at play.” This reality underscores that businesses, regardless of their industry, must focus on building resilience to navigate the inevitable disruptions they face.

The world is moving faster, and paradigms are shifting more rapidly. To stay ahead, companies must learn how to anticipate disruptions and seize opportunities amidst the chaos.

Lessons from resilient companies

What separates companies that thrive during crises from those that falter? Our research highlights the power of a balanced approach that combines defensive strategies to survive immediate shocks with offensive strategy to drive future growth. This blog series explores how resilient organizations anticipate challenges, solve problems more effectively, and navigate change while maintaining a competitive edge.

“Companies that master the delicate balance between cutting costs to survive today and investing to grow tomorrow do well after a recession. Within this group, a subset that deploys a specific combination of defensive and offensive moves has the highest probability—37 percent—of breaking away from the pack.”

These companies have proven that resilience is not just about surviving; it’s about positioning for long-term success.

The path forward: building organizational resilience

Each blog in the Brilliance in Resilience series dives into critical topics that affect businesses today. We begin with supply chain disruptions, manufacturing challenges, talent market shifts, and the impact of energy and inflation crises. As the series progresses, we explore resilience strategies specific to key sectors, focusing on digital innovation and macro shocks—those unpredictable events that can reshape industries overnight.

By embracing a proactive resilience strategy, organizations can survive today’s shocks and thrive in the new world order. Whether innovating with digital tools, reshoring supply chains, or developing flexible workforce strategies, businesses that adapt will emerge stronger.

Stay ahead

Read our Brilliance in Resilience blog series to gain actionable insights on building resilience in the face of ongoing and future disruptions. Discover how your organization can navigate the uncertainty, seize new opportunities, and achieve lasting success.