8 ways to strengthen business resilience in a changing world

Embrace innovation 

In times of disruption and uncertainty, many organizations focus on protecting what they have and wait for things to go back to “normal.” However, as disruption grows, sticking to business as usual can become riskier than trying new approaches.

Innovation is crucial for long-term value and resilience because it creates new revenue streams that are not affected by market cycles. However, innovating during uncertain times requires taking smart risks.

To support this, focus on creating a culture where failure is viewed as part of the learning process, not a setback. When employees feel safe to test new ideas – even if they don’t always work – it builds a culture of resilience and adaptability. It also allows teams to explore different options, learn from their experiences, and improve continuously.

Collaboration is essential for fostering innovation. When your company partners and builds connections with like-minded businesses, suppliers, industry groups, and innovators, it can generate fresh ideas, promote knowledge-sharing, learn from other’s successes and failures, overcome economic challenges, and drive innovation – building collective resilience.

Build a culture of resilience

When challenges arise, leaders and teams in resilient organizations quickly understand the situation, adjust their approach, focus on effective solutions, and move away from ineffective ones.

For this to happen, employees and leaders must feel motivated and empowered to act, even when they face new and uncertain information.

To build resilience and adaptability, consider the following:

• Examine how you structure and manage teams, as well as how teams collaborate across the organization. 
• Develop support systems that encourage employees to engage in creative discussions, provide honest feedback, and utilize that feedback to enhance their work. This approach will help them better adapt to future challenges.
• Focus on psychological safety. Employees are less likely to change their behavior when they believe that failure is not an option. In these scenarios, they may hide problems, avoid taking risks, and hesitate to ask questions. Focusing on psychological safety can help employees feel secure in taking personal risks and continuing to learn. Ask yourself if your employees feel comfortable sharing concerns without fear of backlash, if they trust their colleagues, and if they feel valued.
• Develop leaders at every level of the organization. Training shouldn’t only be for executives; team leaders implement strategy every day. Cross-train employees and create training methods so that all employees understand expectations.

Develop adaptable systems and processes 

Initiatives that help a business run well and increase profits during normal times can cause problems during unexpected events or disruptions. For instance, cost-cutting measures, just-in-time supply chains, or highly specialized operations can improve profitability under normal circumstances but may lead to significant disruptions during crises.

Striking the right balance between optimizing for normal conditions and preparing for uncertainty is crucial. Focus on evaluating potential risks, diversifying supply chains, investing in backup systems, and fostering a culture that can pivot quickly when needed. By embedding flexibility into core business functions, your company can maintain steady performance during disruptions while still thriving in times of stability.

Communicate strategically and effectively

Develop a communication strategy that is clear, timely, and honest. Consider the following:

• Create communication protocols tailored to various disruption scenarios (e.g., tariffs, cyberattacks, supply chain failures).
• Encourage business leaders to regularly engage with staff through emails, virtual meetings, and all-hands meetings.
• Ensure transparency in all communications. 
• Maintain a consistent and coordinated message during uncertain times.

Build cyber resilience

Cyber resilience means more than just protecting against cyber-attacks or returning to normal operations. It focuses on how well your organization can reduce the impact of serious cyber incidents on its goals and objectives.

As technology advances quickly, including the rise of AI, you need to move from just defending against attacks to building cyber resilience. The increase in complex ransomware attacks shows the limitations of traditional security measures, emphasizing the need for a robust framework that can adapt to emerging threats.

Achieving cyber resilience requires technical expertise, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a strategic evolution of cyber controls – ensuring that business operations remain stable even in an increasingly high-risk digital landscape.

How outsourcing helps support organizational resilience

Outsourcing allows organizations to adjust services based on their needs and ensures that compliance issues are managed quickly and accurately.

When unexpected changes occur, an experienced managed service provider can support your company's internal team by providing quick access to expertise in important areas, such as regulatory compliance and the complexities of mergers and acquisitions.

Choosing the right service provider for entity management can also help lower risks. During transactions and expansions, it's challenging to ensure that all requirements are met, and each step is completed correctly. One missed step can threaten the good standing of a company. Risks arise when a non-compliant entity is involved in a transaction.

Conclusion

Resilience is not simply about bouncing back in the short term; it is about forging ahead with sustained momentum into the future. To accomplish this, it’s imperative to have a clear long-term vision that will drive your company’s decision-making, shape its strategies, and transform its culture. This vision must be dynamic and adaptable to the evolving economic, political, and geo-political landscape while remaining a guiding force for your company’s forward trajectory.

Related resources:

• 2025 business and legislative trends for companies
• 2025 M&A outlook: Navigating opportunities and challenges