As we enter the new year of 2023, it is important for organizations to not only embrace agile methods and business agility, but to also consider the concept of antifragile in order to truly thrive in today’s rapidly changing world. The shadow of agility, as described by Dave Snowden, refers to the unintended consequences that can arise from over-reliance on agile practices. In order to truly cross this shadow and achieve success, it is necessary to not only be agile, but to also embody the principles of antifragile, which involve embracing uncertainty, stress, and disorder in order to become stronger and more resilient.

Antifragile, as defined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, refers to systems that gain from disorder, rather than being fragile and breaking under stress. In the context of adaptive synergy, antifragile thinking allows organizations to not only adapt to change, but to also thrive and grow in the face of uncertainty. As Taleb states, “Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better.” By embracing antifragility, organizations can not only survive, but also thrive in the face of change and uncertainty. Here’ s 5 things to consider when making a more adaptive, antifragile business.

1. Antifragile systems embrace and thrive on change and uncertainty. Rather than trying to eliminate or mitigate risk, antifragile systems are designed to adapt and grow stronger in response to stressors and challenges. This is in contrast to traditional agile approaches, which focus on predicting and controlling change. As Nassim Taleb writes in his book Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder, “the antifragile loves randomness and uncertainty, as it means a great deal of variation, and the antifragile grows stronger with such a lifestyle.”

2. Antifragile systems are more resilient and adaptable than traditional agile systems. Traditional agile approaches rely on standardization and predictability to achieve efficiency, but this also makes them vulnerable to disruption. Antifragile systems, on the other hand, are designed to adapt and evolve in response to changing circumstances, allowing them to be more resilient in the face of uncertainty.

3. Antifragile systems are more flexible and scalable than traditional agile systems. Traditional agile approaches are focused on optimizing for efficiency and speed, but this often comes at the expense of flexibility and scalability. Antifragile systems, on the other hand, are designed to adapt and evolve in response to changing circumstances, allowing them to be more flexible and scalable as they grow.

4. Antifragile systems are better at managing complexity and uncertainty. Traditional agile approaches often struggle to deal with complex and uncertain situations, as they rely on predictability and control to achieve efficiency. Antifragile systems, on the other hand, are designed to adapt and evolve in response to complexity and uncertainty, making them better equipped to deal with these types of challenges.

5. Antifragile systems are more sustainable and resilient in the long term. Traditional agile approaches often focus on short-term gains and quick wins, but this can come at the expense of long-term sustainability and resilience. Antifragile systems, on the other hand, are designed to adapt and evolve over time, allowing them to be more sustainable and resilient in the long term.

In order to truly cross the shadow of agility and achieve success in the new year, it is important for organizations to consider the role of antifragile thinking in their approach to adaptability and synergy. By embracing the principles of antifragile, organizations can not only adapt to change, but also thrive and grow in the face of uncertainty, creating more meaningful and sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders.

Some specific steps organizations can take to become more antifragile in 2023 include:

1. Identify and address sources of fragility in your business: To become more antifragile, it’s important to identify and address the sources of fragility within your business. This might include over-reliance on a single customer, supplier, or product line, or a lack of diversity and redundancy in your operations. By addressing these sources of fragility, you can make your business more resilient and better able to withstand unexpected challenges and changes.

2. Embrace uncertainty and embrace change: To be antifragile, you need to be able to adapt and thrive in the face of uncertainty and change. This might mean adopting agile methodologies and practices, such as continuous delivery and rapid prototyping, or embracing a culture of experimentation and learning. By embracing uncertainty and change, you can create a more adaptable and resilient organization that is better able to navigate the rapidly changing business environment.

3. Focus on building diverse, cross-functional teams: To be antifragile, you need to have diverse, cross-functional teams that can adapt and thrive in the face of change. This might mean building teams with a range of skills and expertise, or fostering a culture of collaboration and cross-functional working. By building diverse, cross-functional teams, you can create a more adaptable and resilient organization that is better able to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly changing business environment.

4. Embrace the idea of “fail fast, learn fast”: Rather than avoiding failure at all costs, organizations should embrace a culture of experimentation and learning from failure. This helps to build resilience and adaptability over time.

5. Build in redundancy and flexibility: By building in redundancy and flexibility into business processes and systems, organizations can better weather unexpected challenges and changes.

6. Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement: To stay ahead in a rapidly changing world, organizations must embrace a culture of continuous learning and improvement. This means encouraging employees to take on new challenges, learn from their mistakes, and continuously strive for better ways of doing things.

In order to become more antifragile in 2023, it is important to embrace the concept of adaptive synergy and the shadow of agility. This means taking a holistic and integrated approach to problem-solving, and embracing the complexity and interconnectedness of challenges and opportunities. It also means going beyond traditional agile methodologies and embracing a more flexible and adaptive approach to business.