Deliberate planning and acting make teams more resilient
Brittle bridges over beautiful Bonn
As a “self made Bonner” it worries me to see what is going on in Bonn. Because of my deep affection for Bonn it hurts me that lately it has frequently been the center of attention in the media for reasons nobody can possibly enjoy: One of its three bridges over the Rhine river was shut down on short notice due to risk of failure. Apparently a combination of insufficient maintenance, inadequate oversight, and decades of increasing traffic led to severe damage that went unnoticed until some dangerous cracks were discovered. Most Germans still remember the sudden and unexpected collapse of a bridge in Dresden in September 2024. One incident is a tragedy. Two are patterns.
However Bonn’s Bridges merely symbolize a wider misconception: people’s illusion with change happening ‘by accident’ or being brought to them, rather than having some agency in it and driving change.
Von Moltke, Eisenhower and Tyson meet in a bar
This could be the beginning of a hilarious joke. In fact the common insight of these very different men had a deep impact and made a severe difference in the lives of millions of people. Sometimes the difference between life or death.
Military strategist Helmuth von Moltke proposed that “No plan survives contact with the enemy.” U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower realized that “A plan is useless, while planning is indispensable.” And finally heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson stated that “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
This concept of strategic dynamics matters because it
Emphasizes flexibility: Military and business leaders use it to highlight that rigid adherence to a script leads to failure.
Prioritizes adaptability: Real strategy requires the ability to react to unpredictable, real-time changes.
Values the act of planning: The process of planning matters because it forces you to understand your resources and restrictions, even if the final plan must change.
One of the first principles of resilience is to plan ahead. At the same time be aware that your plan might need some changes as events unfold or become partially obsolete or even outright futile. A resilient team understands the necessity of planning and adapting to changes as well as it understands the necessity to have a plan that anticipates important decisions and routines, in order to save sufficient resources for strategic thinking and decision making.
These three men came from entirely different worlds. Yet they arrived at the same conclusion: planning matters. Not because plans survive reality, but because people who plan adapt better when reality changes.
Hope for the best, plan for the worst
Sacrifices for a better future, let alone a clear vision is not something many leaders are keen to talk about these days. What people, myself included, really like to talk about these days is the best locations where to spend our vacations (France), the best dishes and wines (any French wine, preferably rosé) or beers (Bavarian) to enjoy or the best choice of the next coach of our national soccer team (Klopp).
But the more important insight seems, that it’s futile to wait for change to happen by chance or by some mysterious force - instead you should lead your own change. One lesson I learned during my time as a soldier has stayed with me : Impact is more important than safety. Safety matters. However meaningful progress requires accepting that absolute certainty never exists. While politicians still debate billion-dollar infrastructure programs, many citizens have quietly adapted already.
What to do?
Bridges do not collapse overnight. They collapse after years of deferred maintenance. It's also true for:
relationships,
companies,
marriages,
careers,
countries.
Create a plan and act now. Don’t wait for change to come to you. Don’t always wait for permission or absolute safety, where there is none likely to be had. Lead your team with courage and compassion, Lead your own change. Some days might bring little progress. On some you will hit important milestones and achieve great goals. Learn to enjoy both.
Build bridges that endure
Progress is progress - even if it occasionally seems minuscule. The joy of steadily progressing towards a goal or a vision makes people happy. Achieving goals is fun, sure. But hope is not a strategy. Building resilience into teams and organizations is. Creating and fostering people’s sense of agency and self efficacy by building and maintaining bridges that hold over time is what feels truly rewarding.
What change are you working on?
#notestomyfutureme #leadership #buildbridges #kloppoforpresident
Comments