The CEO as Chief Resilience Officer: How Complacency Threatens Your Organization
In their article "The CEO as Chief Resilience Officer" (28.06.25), McKinsey states:
“As with human development, organizations can grow unevenly: No company is equally strong in all four resilience dimensions – financial, operational, organizational, and external.”
But when one area is overdeveloped and another neglected, the consequences can be severe. For example, when processes are optimized without developing the employees who implement them.
Or when a “hero culture” arises in which companies rely too heavily on past successes – leading to exhaustion and stagnation.
Complacency: The Silent Killer of Resilience
My insight: Complacency is the invisible enemy of any transformation.
It creeps in while teams are busy “doing what they've always done.”
The crucial question “Are we still relevant?” is delegated to “others” – with dramatic consequences.
What Exactly Is Complacency?
Complacency is a false sense of security disguised as stability. It shows up when:
- Goals are achieved without reflection
- Feedback is ignored or rejected
- Conflicts are avoided (Yes, that's a real risk to your business!)
- “Good enough” beats “What would be possible?”
The result: Energy fades, creativity withers – exactly when the market demands adaptability.
9 Warning Signs of Complacency in Your Company
Here are the most common symptoms that your company is sliding into complacency:
- Strategy only exists on posters – If no one can explain the next steps, you’re living in the past.
- Leadership = control – 58% of managers had no training before their promotion (HBR).
- Risk is punished, not rewarded – Psychological safety drives innovation (Google, Project Aristotle).
- Bureaucracy kills speed – Decisions take 37% longer today than before the pandemic (McKinsey).
- Employees just do the bare minimum – Low engagement costs $8.8 trillion annually (Gallup).
- No communication from leadership – 74% of employees feel “in the dark” about strategy (EY).
- Departments compete instead of collaborate – Duplicate work wastes 20% of productivity (Salesforce).
- Teams lack trust – Only 10% of teams truly work together (Stanford).
- Knowledge is hoarded – Companies with knowledge sharing are 30% more innovative (MIT).
These symptoms are not minor issues – they are the cancer of your corporate culture.
5-Point Check: How to Uncover Complacency
Action impulses for leaders to uncover complacency:
- Walk the floor – Ask: “When was the last time your manager gave you feedback?”
- Test transparency – Share a piece of news and ask: “What do you think about it?”
- Challenge leadership – Ask: “When did you last gather ideas from your team?”
- Review the purpose – “Can you explain our vision in your own words?”
- Listen actively – The answers will be uncomfortable but revealing.
4 Actions Against Complacency in Your Company
What you can do now:
- Develop leaders – Not just managers.
- Replace blame with learning – From “Who’s responsible?” to “What did we learn?”
- Measure collaboration like revenue – Reward cross-team success.
- Introduce complacency checks in meetings – Make alertness a habit.
Conclusion: Today’s Success Doesn’t Guarantee Tomorrow’s
The uncomfortable truth: Today’s success offers no protection for the future.
Complacency is curable, but only if you have the courage to face it honestly and act consistently.
For a deeper discussion or a status analysis, I’m happy to support – let’s talk before it’s too late.
