The Coronavirus is the Black Swan that is now affecting all aspects of life. And, unfortunately, it keeps bringing unanticipated aftershocks. However, fortunately, we are not entirely powerless. Now is the time to plan for the additional, company-specific Black Swan effects, the aftershocks that may happen, and your ultimate recovery. You will have to think differently about the immediate future.
Think differently:
One way to think differently and start protecting yourself against the aftershocks of this Black Swan (Black Cygnets, if you will) that follow, is to work through this exercise:
have your team identify a minimum of ten events, or series of events, that would severely impact your business to the point of irrelevancy or failure;
Note: a minimum of ten events is required; the more, the better. The ten-event minimum will force the identification of events that typically would not be considered in the ordinary course of business.
Include all events no matter how outlandish they may seem;
Your next Black Swan aftershocks will be on your list in the eight, nine, or ten spots (start from the bottom and work your way).
Now is the time to act:
Identify the actions that must be taken immediately for each Black Cygnet, and take them;
Identify for each Black Cygnet the "inflection point" that identifies possible future action
Note: an “inflection point” is evidence, in the environ in which you work, that the next Black Cygnet event is coming to fruition, but has not yet happened;
establish a process to actively and aggressively search for the "inflection point."
For each Black Cygnet identify which actions can be postponed until an "inflection point" is reached;
Assign a specific team member(s) to search, on a regular and periodic basis, for each particular "inflection point;”
Assign a specific team member(s) to initiate immediate action once the "inflection" point is reached.
The identification of “inflection points” provides an early warning signal that a negative impact on your business is imminently possible but not necessarily probable. This process provides a mechanism that lessens the possibility of taking drastic action should the Black Cygnet event fail to materialize.
Further, using the same process described above identify those “inflection points” that indicate that the current crisis is approaching its conclusion for your organization. Now is the time to plan to initiate the recovery of your operation. This crisis will pass, and you need to be ready to take advantage of the recovery at the earliest possible moment.
So, right now, the coronavirus crisis continues to unfold. Every day is filled with uncertainty. Minimize that uncertainty by planning now for both continuous negative impact and the ultimate recovery. Think and act differently now to minimize possible risks and optimize potential opportunities.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Petty is the co-founder and consulting-futurist at Flagship Futures Group, LLC in Washington, DC. He brings over forty-five years of strategic and financial experience to the service of his clients. His most significant value to his clients lies in his expertise in the areas of strategic thinking, planning and execution; shareholder value creation; and leadership development.
Learn more about Dr. Petty here, or get in contact with him here.