How to Spot a Resilient Organization

Resilience is usually defined as the ability to bounce back to the previous state after a shock. However, it can be more accurately described as a process by which an organization weathers a stressful event not just by returning to its original form but by improving itself in a sort of dynamic adaptation similar to the evolution of natural species.

In the latest episode of the Clarity in a Messy World podcast series, Carlo Salvato, Professor of Business Strategy at Bocconi, singles out a resilient mindset in firms.

"There are two dimensions of a resilience mindset in organizations," he says. "One is cognitive and the other one is emotional. Resilient organizations display what is called a cognitive capability endowment, so in these firms you see people that share a strong clarity of mission, a strong sense of purpose, strong shared values, and a strong history. As for the emotional side, resilient firms show an ability to regulate collective emotions. They have deep emotions that can be transformed into positive energy. In this way, it becomes easier for people to commit to the initiatives of change that are required to face a crisis".

Clarity in a Messy World, hosted by David W. Callahan, is the Bocconi podcast that looks at the causes behind the most confounding issues of our time. You can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, and YouTube.