Strategy Needs Flexibility in an Uncertain World

Strategic rigidity is a luxury very few businesses can afford. With US tariffs shifting global trade flows, and UK employers now facing higher National Insurance contributions, leaders must build strategy that’s dynamic—not doctrinal.

The IMF's April 2025 outlook warns of "persistent economic volatility" due to geopolitical fragmentation, inflationary pressures, and supply chain reconfiguration. If your five-year plan can’t pivot in the face of new tariffs, regulation, or cost shocks, it’s not a plan—it’s a liability.

What resilient businesses do differently:

• Scenario planning: Not just “best” and “worst” cases, but a range of plausible futures.

• Empowered teams: Decentralized decision-making speeds up adaptation.

• Portfolio thinking: Invest in a mix of proven and exploratory initiatives.

Survival and success now demand that strategy is not a static document, but a living, breathing capability.