Building Resilience in Changing Times

BANI 101: What it means, Why it matters, & Where to start.

We sure are living in crazy times! It seems there’s not a person in business who isn’t – on some level – shaking their head at the complexity and change facing businesses right now. Even if not directly affected, most of us are using caution in decision-making and business planning because we just don’t know what’s next.

In the early 1990’s The US Army War College developed the acronym VUCA to describe the geopolitical landscape. It stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. This framework worked its way into a business context over the last three decades to describe the challenging and dynamic nature of the modern world, particularly in business and leadership contexts. It represents:

While this model or way of thinking, planning and understanding the world has been around for decades, modern thinkers and futurists like Jamais Cascio are arguing that we need a new framework. He saw gobal systems exhibiting patterns that defied previous understandings, necessitating a new way to make sense of what he calls “the age of chaos”. With old models no longer sufficient to capture the nuances of contemporary challenges, he developed the acronym – BANI – to capture the dynamics of the age of chaos. It stands for:

· Brittle – the fragility of systems and organizations, suggesting they may break down unexpectedly under pressure

· Anxious – the widespread feeling of anxiety and stress in a world facing constant uncertainty and change

· Nonlinear – cause and effect relationships are no longer linear or easily predictable, leading to complex and unexpected outcomes

· Incomprehensible – difficulty in understanding the complexities and interconnectedness of the world, leading to a sense of overwhelm

Cascio’s framework was introduced in 2018, but post COVID, it couldn’t be more accurate to what people everywhere seem to be experiencing. The BANI framework suggests that traditional approaches are no longer effective and that businesses and leaders need to change their approach to survive in the age of chaos.

On the surface, it feels pretty bleak, but the real value in BANI isn’t in dwelling on the chaos – it’s in naming it clearly so we can respond wisely. Here’s how leaders can flip the script and create thriving environments in a BANI world.

1. From Brittle TO Building Resilience

Brittle systems look strong but shatter under stress. The antidote is flexibility and adaptability. It looks like this:

· Promote experimentation over perfection. Small failures teach resilience.

· Decentralize control so teams can adapt locally to changing conditions.

· Invest in contingency planning and cross-training to avoid single points of failure.

Ask: Where are we overly rigid? How can we build shock absorbers into our systems?

2. From Anxious TO Fostering Psychological Safety

Anxiety thrives in uncertainty. People perform better when they feel safe to speak up, question, and take risks. It looks like this:

· Normalize uncertainty – don’t pretend to have all the answers.

· Be transparent in communication and involve people in decisions.

· Offer wellbeing supports, check-ins, and space for emotion, especially in times of rapid change.

Ask: Do people feel like they can be honest here—even when things go sideways?

3. From Nonlinear TO Embracing Agility

In a nonlinear world, cause and effect don’t follow neat timelines. Leaders must let go of rigid planning. It looks like this:

· Shift from annual plans to rolling strategies with room to pivot.

· Encourage iterative thinking: test, learn, adjust.

· Use scenario planning to prepare for multiple futures.

Ask: Are we designing for clarity—or for adaptability?

4. From Incomprehensible TO Creating Clarity and Meaning

Incomprehensibility paralyzes action. People need sense-making and narrative to move forward. It looks like this:

· Translate complexity into simple guiding principles.

· Reaffirm purpose and values—these are your anchors.

· Encourage leaders to interpret what’s happening and offer context, not just facts.

Ask: What meaning can we offer in the midst of all this noise?

To build organizations and people that thrive in a BANI World, leaders must be:

· Grounded, but not rigid.

· Calm, but not passive.

· Curious, but not controlling.

· Courageous, but not reckless.

· And above all, human.

By acknowledging the reality of BANI and leading with intention, you don’t just help people survive, you help them grow stronger through it. And when your people are stronger, so is your business. That’s what thriving looks like in the age of chaos. It’s not complicated, but it’s also not easy. How could asking these questions, in collaboration with your team, shift the game for your business?

Essential Leadership Foundations for the Future

“The more we automate, the more human we need to be.”
Gerd Leonhard, Futurist & Author of Technology vs. Humanity

Daniel Goleman, psychologist and author best known for popularizing the concept of emotional intelligence in leadership, work, and personal development says that emotional intelligence is the one foundational thing leadership cannot function without. As we continue to march toward technical and AI advancements, futurists are saying that the soft skills – things like empathy, listening, and personal growth – will continue to be the key skills that will set leaders apart.

Our Smart Leadership Academy, now in its 13th cohort, focuses on transforming leaders, growing both soft skills and building strategic insights, tools, and practices to lead teams from chaos to thriving! Enrol now for the fall 2025 Academy.

The Smart Leadership Academy has qualified for the BC Employer Training Grant, which can pay up to 80% of tuition. Fund are not unlimited so apply now to increase your chances of getting support. Click below for more information.

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