How do we create a more resilient organization during this transition from a global pandemic to a post pandemic world? - part #4

Another pathway to becoming more resilient is to analyze your service delivery landscape. Here we try and figure out what are the technical problems and what are the adaptive challenges within it.

As a quick review, technical problems fall within the range of current problem solving expertise. The problem is clearly defined and the known solutions are implemented by current know-how. The key is to apply the right tool or connect the right person with the problem in order to create the right solution.

When it comes to adaptive challenges, the problem will require new perspectives, expertise and solutions. Most of the time defining the problem may require learning and often calls into question fundamental assumptions and beliefs. We solve these kinds of challenges by making changes in people’s priorities, beliefs, habits and even loyalties. In short adaptive challenges require new ways of thinking. 

From a position of authority, a leader dealing with a technical problem will protect the organization from external threats, maintain norms and restore order. However, with an adaptive challenge, this same leader may expose external threats and the resulting conflict they are causing. They also may challenge norms or let them be challenged. This is uncomfortable for all involved but is one of the steps in changing how people solve the challenge and generate a new way of thinking.

Thus, as a leader analyzes their service delivery landscape, they must create a solution for each technical problem and adaptive challenge. They also do not assume the plan will work as proposed with adaptive challenges. Therefore, they do pre-mortems or a variety of table top exercises assuming that there will be problems as they execute the plan. At the same time, they try and decipher what are the second and third order consequences rather than presuppose that their plan and its solutions will all work.

When our external environment become more and more complex, and our internal organizational capacity can not evolve fast enough to meet these external demands, we could encounter the potential for organizational failure or a major system collapse. The result of this level of collapse is the potential for cultural de-evolution, i.e. a time when we pass on unhealthy cultural behaviors and norms plus create a work environment which promotes and perpetuates these problems. Therefore, we must build the capacity and the systems to become resilient. The future may be unpredictable but I guarantee you it will become more complicated and more complex. Thus resiliency is the right choice moving forward.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257