In the manufacturing world, consistency is often synonymous with success. The right tools, people, processes, and predictable markets can create what many leaders would call a “stable” business. But stability has a hidden flaw—it’s only as good as the market conditions it relies on. If those conditions shift, your once-stable business may suddenly become a burden rather than an asset. The things that used to work can be broken overnight.
In his book The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek encourages leaders to think beyond temporary success and build something lasting. He suggests that successful businesses embrace resilience—an approach that keeps them relevant and strong through changing circumstances, not just favorable or predictable ones.
Building resilience isn’t about abandoning your values or mission; rather, it’s about staying flexible and adaptable in your methods to survive and thrive through whatever the market throws your way.
The Problem with Stability
Stability can be a comforting goal. When times are good, stability offers a predictable roadmap: steady demand, loyal customers, known suppliers, and consistent cash flow. For many manufacturing leaders, stability can feel like the ultimate win.
However, stability only works when times are good, conditions are predictable, and forecasts hold steady. If any of these factors change—a sudden downturn in demand, supply chain disruptions, or a shift in customer preferences—stability quickly becomes a liability. You’re anchored to past assumptions, former customers, and outdated prices. A stable business is only as reliable as the environment it depends on, which means that as soon as the environment changes, stability transforms into vulnerability.
Why Resilience Is Your Strongest Asset
Resilience, on the other hand, thrives on change. It’s about evolving in response to challenges while holding steadfast to your mission and goals. Resilience allows you to adapt to new realities without losing sight of what makes your company unique.
Consider this: A resilient manufacturing business is prepared to adjust its methods, explore new markets, or pivot operations when necessary. It’s not tethered to “the way things have always been done” but rather empowered by the question, “How can we do things differently to meet our goals in this new environment?” In times of change, a stable company is held back by “the way things have always been done.” Building resilience requires shifting from fixed plans to adaptable frameworks. This doesn’t mean abandoning your company’s mission, values, or most important objectives; in fact, it’s the opposite. A resilient approach keeps your mission stable but remains flexible in the ways you achieve it.
Does This Really Matter?
This isn’t just semantics, either. Stable means unchanging. It means consistency. It means doing the same thing and getting the same result, over and over and over again. And when companies do this, they’re people get in the habit of doing the same things, for the same reasons, and getting the same results.
Resilient, on the other hand, means you’re committed to the same thing, your mission, but you achieve that mission in any number of ways, based on what the market demands. Coaches often tell their players to “take what the defense gives you.” A stable basketball plater will run the exact same play, exactly the same way, no matter where the defense is. A resilient basketball player will adjust, maybe throw in a backdoor cut for an easy layup, based on what the defense gives them.
At the end of the day, it’s easier to aim for stability rather than resilience. Stability is easily managed. SOPs govern every decision. New opportunities are easily dismissed and decisions are easily made because “it’s not the way we’ve always done it.” Resilience is difficult. As my good friend Mike Schmitt says “Don’t pursue short-term gain at the cost of long-term pain.” Instead, pursue the short-term pain of building a resilient business for the long-term gain of having a company that can survive whatever the market throws at you.
Stability vs. Resilience: Common Mistakes to Avoid
As you consider if it’s worth the time and effort (because it takes both) to build a resilient business, here are some common traps leaders fall into—and how you can avoid them.
Mistake #1: Equating Stability with Strength
When times are predictable, it’s tempting to assume that stability equals strength. But as many leaders have learned, true strength comes from the ability to adjust under pressure, not just during good times. If you’re focused solely on stability, you risk losing relevance when the market inevitably shifts.
Solution: Embrace a resilient mindset. Rather than focusing on stability as a goal, emphasize adaptability in your processes and people. Think of stability as a potential outcome of resilience rather than the ultimate objective.
Mistake #2: Holding on to “What Used to Work”
Manufacturing has a long memory—sometimes too long. There’s a tendency to cling to the processes, customers, or pricing models that once worked well. While respecting your company’s past achievements is valuable, holding onto them too tightly can hold you back.
Solution: Maintain a clear focus on your current mission and goals, but don’t be afraid to rethink how you achieve them. Regularly assess whether your current methods are still the best path forward. Encourage feedback from your teams and watch the market for early signs that a pivot might be necessary.
Mistake #3: Over-reliance on Forecasts
Forecasts are useful, but only as long as they remain accurate. Many leaders build their entire strategy around the assumption that market conditions will continue to follow a certain path. This works until a major disruption, like a recession or supply chain crisis, forces a different reality.
Solution: Build flexibility into your plans. If your forecasts are wrong, how quickly could you adapt? Develop contingency plans, and create a culture that supports rapid response to change. Resilience isn’t about predicting the future; it’s about preparing to respond to it, no matter what it brings.
Mistake #4: Sacrificing Your Mission for the Sake of Adaptability
Resilience doesn’t mean changing for change’s sake. Some leaders mistake resilience for abandoning their core values, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. A resilient business keeps its mission and values as the anchor, adapting its methods while staying true to its purpose.
Solution: Clearly define your mission and values, and communicate them often. When you make adjustments to your strategy, explain how these changes serve your mission. This creates alignment across your team and reassures them that change doesn’t mean losing focus on what matters.
Building Resilience into Your Organization
Resilience doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intention, foresight, and a commitment to flexibility. Here’s how you can build resilience into your manufacturing business:
- Anchor to Your Mission: Your mission and values should be a stable foundation. Let these guide you through every adjustment or pivot.
- Cultivate an Adaptable Team: Train your teams to see change as an opportunity rather than a threat. Empower them to share ideas on how to meet new challenges.
- Build Flexibility into Operations: Look for areas where you can be more responsive. Whether it’s diversifying your suppliers, developing backup plans, or fostering a culture of innovation, focus on areas where adaptability will have the most impact.
- Assess Regularly and Adjust Accordingly: Make it a habit to reassess your strategies and processes. The more frequently you evaluate your business, the more prepared you’ll be to make quick decisions when needed.
Stability or Resilience?
Building a stable business is straightforward, and easier when times are good. But a resilient business offers enduring strength. Stability will always have a place, but in an unpredictable market, it’s resilience that will carry you forward. Embrace resilience by anchoring to your mission while staying agile in how you achieve it. When times are good, resilience allows you to thrive; when times are hard, it allows you to survive.
In a world where change is the only constant, resilience is not just a survival strategy—it’s a competitive advantage.