The fact that we live in volatile times is nothing new. But what can family-owned and mid-sized companies do to not just weather the storm — but come out stronger?
In my conversation with Andreas Hettich, Chairman of the Advisory Board at the Hettich Group, one thing becomes clear: better collaboration, individual accountability, and faster, bolder decision-making remain essential for navigating a VUCA world.
The more domain experts are involved in key decisions, the faster and more effectively companies can respond to internal and external shifts. As Fredmund Malik wrote years ago, effective leadership must “organise a complex system so that it can largely self-organise, self-regulate, self-renew, and evolve.”
This kind of culture — shaped by empowered experts — marks a radical departure from the status quo. It affects far more than just the leadership level, which inevitably faces more blind spots in complexity.
But here’s the challenge: this shift demands a new level of responsibility from subject-matter experts. And not every employee will be ready — or willing — to take it on.
Chairman of the Advisory Board Hettich Group
