When the speed of change is ever-accelerating, making the future unpredictable, firms must prepare for the worst.
To do so, history has taught us that firms need to develop three key qualities:
- Engaging the Whole System
- Moving with Agility
- Building Resilience
We call it the Art of W.A.R., referring to the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (“Master Sun”).
Some of the quotes attributed to Sun Tzu :
- “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles,”
- “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
- “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
- “He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.”
When the speed of change is ever-accelerating, raising the employees’ adaptive capacity (how comfortable an individual is dealing with change or challenges to the status quo) should be prevailed over raising productivity (the output per unit of labor).
Research confirms that a joint discovery of the root causes of past success, referred to as Positive Inquiry, inspires employees to co-imagine enhanced products and processes, thereby securing the firm’s future.
We will soon explain more about the W.A.R. preconditions and why you should have a W.A.R. Council.
In the meantime, look at the video below, based on the Laloux Culture Model, to consider your organization’s current culture model.
