The only thing that is constant is the “change”. So, one needs to accept the inevitability of change and embrace the same in a positive fashion through planned transitions towards capitalizing on the opportunities and surviving through the disruptions.

The planned transitions are facilitated through proactive change mechanisms which in turn foster resilience behaviour, i.e., an ability to bounce back and survive the adversities imposed by the changes. Proactive changes are initiated in anticipation of a future opportunity or a threat.

Hence, such changes promote the holistic development of an individual or an organisation. Consequently, holistic development facilitates the enhancement of both hard and soft skills to produce sustainable performance outputs, i.e., aids with the development of resilience capabilities within an individual or an organisation to face/survive the challenges/disruptions imposed by the changes.

Additionally, proactive changes are easy to implement as they are planned well in advance of an anticipated event. Hence, can be facilitated in a phased manner considering the gaps to overcome and flourish from future events. Thus, they face less resistance, as people willingly confide in the changes, considering the positive aspects of the change.

On the other hand, reactive changes are quite risky, as they focus on haphazardly developing the change capabilities to reduce the impacts of the disruptions faced. Thus, standing inefficient in inculcating resilience capabilities for facing future turbulences.

Within the current competitive landscape, one needs to stand resilient to disturbances for long-term survival and growth. In this pursuit, individuals or organisations need to continuously monitor changing conditions and fine-tune themselves to face any kind of future challenges and benefit from future opportunities.

Skill gaps and future readiness

For example, an individual forecasting stiff future competition within the academic workspace plans to get trained on digital teaching aids to convene additional income through e-content delivery. The proactive changes initiated by the individual in anticipation of future disturbances, made him resilient/competent/capable enough to face/survive the COVID-19 pandemic, as online mode of delivery was the most prominent delivery mode used across the world throughout the pandemic.

In a similar fashion, organizations can become resilient to risks induced by internal and external disruptions, if they can identify the skill gaps for future survival and promote training to foster holistic development of the employees in all regards. Such practices will make the organizations persist, adapt, and transform themselves to the changes imposed/faced while maintaining their self-identity/equilibrium.

Hence, individuals/ organizations need to embrace a more systematic and planned means of managing changes i.e., proactive change management rather than the random and turbulent means of managing changes i.e., reactive change management. Planned changes not only aid the individuals/organizations to avoid significant impacts from future turbulences but also aid in capitalizing on hidden opportunities within the future internal/external disruptions.

For example, the beauty brand “Glossier” launched a new hand cream during the pandemic by tapping into an opportunity to reduce the damage to the hands caused by excessive hand washing and sanitising (Handley, 2020). Likewise, firms such as Amul, Dabur, ITC, etc., also tweaked their existing product lines during the pandemic to serve the specific needs of the consumer during the pandemic. Hence, resilience capabilities, i.e., flexibility, visibility, alignment, and agility induced by proactive change management practices, aided the firm to survive and grow even during the pandemic.

References

Handley. L. (2020). These brands are still going ahead with product launches despite the coronavirus crisis. Available here. (Accessed Jan 03, 2024).

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