Antifragility Goes Beyond Resilience, But Then What?
A Different Way to Think About Winning Teams
In biology, resilience refers to the ability of a living organism or ecosystem to bounce back from adverse conditions, shocks, or stressors. It is the capacity to absorb and recover from disturbance. This disturbance could alter the system’s state or functioning, but it would maintain its essential processes and structures.
Resilient organisms (or entities) share some common traits, such as:
redundancy: they have backup systems or processes that can take over in the event of failure or stress, allowing them to maintain their normal functioning.
modularity: they are composed of modular components that can be swapped out or replaced if damaged, allowing them to maintain their overall functioning.
feedback loops: they have feedback mechanisms that help them respond to changes and adjust their behavior accordingly.
networking: they are often part of complex networks of interactions with other organisms, which helps to increase their chances of survival and resilience in the face of stress.
learning and memory: they can learn from experience and adjust their behavior accordingly, which helps to increase their chances of survival in the future.
Teams need these same traits if they’re going to stay alive through disorder, but if they want to do more than that, they need to be antifragile. Antifragility is a concept introduced by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, which refers to a state beyond mere resilience in which an entity not only recovers from stress and disorder but benefits from it. Antifragile systems become stronger, more adaptable, and more efficient due to shocks and stressors rather than being broken down by them.
The specific traits that differentiate an antifragile entity from a resilient entity include
continuous improvement: they are designed to continuously improve and evolve rather than return to their normal functioning after a stressor has passed.
proactivity: they are proactive, anticipating and preparing for change and stress rather than just reacting to it.
embracing failure: they are designed to embrace failure and use it as an opportunity for growth and improvement rather than avoiding it.
leveraging stress: they leverage stress and change as a source of growth and improvement rather than just coping with it.
innovation: they are designed to promote innovation and new ideas rather than just maintaining the status quo.
By possessing these traits, an antifragile system not only survives but benefits from changes and stress in its environment, continuously improving and evolving. From a team leader’s perspective, these traits are difficult to establish but can be done primarily through building a thoughtful culture and identity. But what state can an entity that is resilient and antifragile evolve to next? What is beyond antifragility? Let’s consider three additional traits beyond antifragility that could fit: equanimity, flourishing, and opportunism.
Equanimity refers to a state of calm and balance in which one can maintain a stable and detached perspective even in adversity. This ability to remain centered and composed in the face of the disorder can be a valuable asset, allowing one to see things clearly and make sound decisions, even in uncertain and challenging circumstances. In this sense, equanimity can be seen as building on the antifragile principle of benefiting from stress and disorder by allowing one to respond to these challenges with clarity and purpose. I have seen magic happen when people respond to things this way, but detachment is a rare quality that can be developed through practice (mindfulness and contemplative practice). Marcus Aurelius comes to mind here, or the Dalia Llama. Also, an excellent military team has equanimity.
Flourishment, on the other hand, refers to a state in which one can fully realize one's potential and achieve a high level of well-being, even in the face of adversity. Flourishment encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being and often involves growth and progress toward goals and aspirations. What happens in nature when something is resilient and also antifragile? Well, in nature, that something flourishes. In essence, antifragility and flourishing are similar in that they both involve thriving and growth, but antifragility is more focused on the ability of systems to benefit from stress and uncertainty, while flourishing is a broader concept that encompasses many aspects of overall well-being. Amazon is the best example of a flourishing company. Blue-green algae also come to mind, having survived more years on Earth than anything else.
A third concept to consider is opportunism, which refers to the ability to take advantage of chaotic or unstable situations to advance one's interests or gain an advantage. This trait can be valuable in situations where resources are scarce or competition is intense, as it allows one to exploit opportunities as they arise quickly. However, opportunism can also be seen as a negative trait, as it may involve exploiting others or taking advantage of vulnerable situations for personal gain, so it is critical to maintaining a sense of “thrive and help thrive”. Hedge funds are opportunistic, as is Richard Branson, who has taken advantage of emerging markets for his entire career.
In conclusion, antifragility is a concept that refers to the ability of an entity to benefit from stress and disorder, becoming more robust, more adaptable, and more efficient as a result. It goes beyond resilience. Building on this concept, equanimity, flourishing, and opportunism can be seen as three additional states that go beyond antifragility, each representing a different way of responding to uncertainty and change. So, assuming the goal of an entity is to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible, which of these concepts makes the most sense as a destination state? I welcome your comments. The next step is to study entities that have achieved this state and create a playbook to replicate their awesomeness.
