BY ROWENA CROSBIE, president, Tero International

How resilient are you when disruption happens? How well-positioned are you to take advantage of opportunities presented by change? Check out this Tero Tips video to challenge your thinking about change.

Which plant species is best positioned to take advantage of the prime real estate that becomes available when a large tree falls and opens the canopy to new sunlight? 

Common thinking is that the most competitive plant will prevail. Like many things, research shows our instincts are wrong. It is not the most competitive plant but the plant in the best position to take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself that wins the battle for the coveted niche.

That makes sense. If the most competitive plant won every battle, the entire forest would be populated by the same species. In nature, as in business, diversity is the spice of life. Small, sometimes extremely fragile plants find a space in which they don’t just survive, but thrive, despite competitive pressures from all around. This is also true of many individuals and businesses. 

This insight from the natural world is both excellent and concerning for us all. It provides hope that the changes that are constant, if properly prepared for, may present great opportunities for the future. It also provides evidence that enjoying success may be short-lived if preparation for the changes of the future doesn’t remain at the forefront of our minds and strategic agendas.

How resilient are you when disruption happens? How well-positioned are you to take advantage of opportunities presented by change?

View Rowena’s bio here