Our website uses cookies in order to be able to offer the best possible functionality. By using the website you agree to the use of cookies. More information can be found here.
The annual meeting of The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2023 brought together some 2,700 global leaders from governments, businesses, and civil society to examine risks and share solutions under the banner “co-operation in a fragmented world”.
Attention was drawn to the major shift in international political, economic, and social relationships following the COVID-19 pandemic; along with the global economic crisis, growing populations, geopolitical conflicts, energy supplies, food security and climate change, and the risks all of these bring.
Reportedly, the most used phrase on everyone’s lips at Davos this year was ‘Polycrisis’.
By definition, a problem becomes a crisis when it challenges our ability to cope and thus threatens our identity. Canadian research centre The Cascade Institute describes a global Polycrisis as being ‘when crises occur in multiple global systems and become entangled in ways that significantly degrade humanity’s prospects’.
Research by Signium, a leading global Executive Search & Leadership Consulting firm, looks at Leadership in Polycrisis – and the solutions required for business leaders to futureproof their businesses and industries.
Noting that much of what puts businesses at risk cannot be foreseen, Jennifer Palmer, Forbes Finance Council, suggests highlighting some key points when planning to minimise potential threats. These include:
“Geopolitical, cybersecurity, and energy risks are prominent, as well as climate change and the difficulties created by the pandemic. There are these challenges, but there are also highly intelligent people with a lot of experience, willingness, and preparedness to manage this and transform. States, companies, and individual stakeholders are becoming more aware of this and are working together on ways to address these challenges. I am optimistic about the future.”
Angela Westdorf, Managing Partner Signium Germany
Signium’s research reviews various countries, regions, and sectors to give an assessment of global risks business leaders are facing now and will likely be challenged with for the foreseeable future.
Futureproofing business must take the key factors noted by Angela Westdorf into account by ensuring the current C-Suite is equipped to deal with issues as they stand now, while equipping upcoming C-Suite candidates with a people strategy that engages them and embeds resilience.
Three key ways to empower teams with resilient leadership are:
Where leaders are a source of confidence and inspiration for their teams, they are more likely to follow and be motivated when dealt the unexpected. Develop competency programs that promote servant leadership so that teams now and in the future feel part of something bigger than themselves alone.
According to Gallup.com, the “behaviours of highly engaged business units result in 21% greater profitability”. Employees who feel engaged generally feel inspired too, and engaging employees delivers profitability, productivity and employee retention.
When businesses need to be agile, so do their teams in order to adapt to new demands and the skills needed to service them. By creating workplaces where individuals can self-manage their development, they can be more nimble and effective.
Signium’s deep-dive into sector risks and mitigation gives business leaders invaluable insight into what is happening in the world today and its impact on various sectors including financial services, consumer, industrial, and life sciences.
Each new insight can be the cornerstone of your company’s futureproofing strategy. From the financial sector with its focus on digital banking, cyber risk and the issue of interconnectedness; to the consumer sector with topics relating to engagement, behaviour and rising costs; Signium’s research provides answers as well as pertinent questions.
Albert Einstein suggested that asking questions should not be about getting answers, but rather about solving problems. Business leaders looking for the agility to face what may (or may not) happen in the future are undeniably those who are asking the right questions now.
In a world where “Polycrisis” is now common language, the most effective leaders will be asking questions and seeking solutions to problems both real and imagined. Many predictions made by heads of corporations about “trends in 2020” were stymied by the unimaginable – but taking steps to futureproof businesses now will not be effort wasted.
The full report is available here.
Signium recently published a comprehensive research report that identifies the key risks faced by business leaders today and highlights practical ways to navigate through turbulent times. The report engages seasoned business executives and partners across Signium’s global network to gather views of what lies ahead and how leaders can futureproof their businesses.
