By Tom Marsicano, CEO of 'and Change', a global advisory and change management consultancy
The Ukraine conflict, the hangover of the pandemic, economic recessions, mass inflation – it's no wonder people feel bombarded by circumstance. According to the World Economic Forum, the planet is amid a so-called "Polycrisis". The word cropped up throughout panel discussions at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos with experts evaluating the short- and long-term challenges facing the planet for the Forum's Global Risks Report 2023.
Defined as "disparate crises interact(ing) such that the overall impact far exceeds the sum of each part", it's a term that unnerves people worldwide. Yet for those of us in South Africa, who are used to facing economic constraints and infrastructural issues like loadshedding and water interruptions, we know that even during a crisis (or multiple crises), there are opportunities to bring about positive change.
Considering the vast amount of change many countries, organisations, and individuals have faced over the past few years, it's no wonder that change adaptability has become an increasingly valued skill.
The entities (and the people within those entities) adept at problem-solving, keeping an open mind, and being willing to change are most likely to thrive – even during a crisis.
As change management practitioners, we are the people who build organisational change capability, and what we've noticed among our most successful clients – and in other case studies – is that scenario planning is more valuable than ever. Scenario planning is about asking the "what if" questions and trying to find the best decisions in the face of uncertainty – before the impact of a crisis hits.