As someone who has seen firsthand the impact of adaptability, I wanted to share with you five insights recently posted on hbr.org that create a competitive advantage by fostering change agility within organizations. I think 2025 will be a year of change for many of us, so this felt very timely.
1. Share a Clear, Compelling Purpose
Change begins with purpose. When employees understand the "why" behind change, resistance diminishes, and engagement grows. Purpose acts as a guardrail, aligning actions and decisions. Without a clear purpose, change initiatives risk faltering. Leaders must articulate a vision that resonates deeply, giving employees a meaningful reason to embrace transformation.
2. Look Ahead and See Opportunity
While many associate forward-thinking with senior executives, it’s crucial to empower mid- and front-line leaders to identify emerging trends and opportunities. Asking questions like, “What will our customers need a year from now?” and “What trends could impact us?” encourages proactive thinking. Organizations should minimize bureaucracy to foster experimentation and celebrate successes, creating a culture where the status quo is never enough. At ASE we often follow our all-team meetings with strategy sessions focused on these very questions, minimizing bureaucracy to foster experimentation and celebrating successes to create a culture where status quo is never enough.
3. Seek Out What’s Not Working
Bad news often struggles to travel upward. For real progress, leaders must create psychologically safe spaces where employees can share challenges openly. A team’s ability to openly discuss what is working and what isn’t leads to higher employee engagement and actionable solutions. Psychological safety isn’t optional; it’s essential for sustained learning and improvement. In my one-on-one forms I have my senior leadership team complete each week, one question I ask is what challenges they are facing – what is and what isn’t working.
4. Promote Calculated Risk-Taking and Experimentation
Innovation thrives when organizations shift from asking “Why?” to “Why not?” Leaders must encourage pilots, prototypes, and experiments, recognizing that failure is part of the path to success. Like R&D, where failures pave the way for breakthroughs, calculated risks can uncover new opportunities and drive progress.
5. Foster Boundary-Spanning Partnerships
The complexity of today’s work requires collaboration across functions. Breaking down silos enables the rapid flow of information and decision-making. Cross-functional partnerships help unify efforts, streamline processes, and create consistent strategies that address diverse needs. Effective collaboration enhances efficiency and innovation, paving the way for sustainable growth. This is where all-team strategy sessions are so beneficial. At ASE we divide team members into strategy groups while carefully ensuring a cross-section of roles is represented in each group.
Given that 2025 is shaping up to be a year of significant change for many of us, these insights are particularly timely. How do you encourage and support resiliency in your organization? Email me at [email protected].