Building a Stronger Organization in 2025

As we rush through 2025, it is critical to pause and consider the Organizational Resiliency Program. Often overlooked in times of calm and scrutinized during crises, it is essential to take the time to gather a team of internal (and potentially external) stakeholders to assess, review, renew, and update the program.

At Risk Resiliency, we consider Organizational Resilience a holistic approach to how an organization can Prepare, Respond, and Recover efficiently and effectively during a crisis. At its core, an Organizational Resiliency Program should include the following:

• A tactical, employee-facing Emergency Action Plan (EAP). This is typically state- or federally mandated.
• An Emergency Management Plan (EMP), which outlines roles, resources, team structure, and procedures employees use to respond to an emergency.
• A Crisis Management Plan (CMP), a strategic document that provides senior leadership with guidance on effectively supporting field operations during an emergency.
• A Crisis Communication Plan, which establishes the framework for internal and external communication during a crisis.

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Six Strategies to Consider When Reviewing and Updating Your 2025 Organizational Resiliency Program

1. Review Your Emergency Management Plan and Engage Critical Stakeholders

The most resilient organizations don’t wait for a crisis to strike — they proactively commit resources to preparedness. They do this by:

• Assessing threats and understanding risks to ensure a plan is in place to protect employees and vendors while allowing the organization to respond effectively and mitigate consequences. Regularly update risk assessments, explore potential crisis scenarios, and engage stakeholders to identify unexpected threats that could catch the organization off guard.
• Leveraging data to make informed decisions. Use analytics to identify early warning signs of emerging issues and categorize lessons learned into a critical path for mitigation. What metrics could you integrate into your program?
• Maintaining a culture of continuous learning by subscribing to industry alert networks that provide insights into local and global trends. Review past incidents and after action reports — ask yourself: Have corrective actions been completed? Who is responsible for execution? Were any actions left incomplete that need to be prioritized in 2025? Consider establishing an action-tracking database to ensure a structured cycle of continuous improvement.

2. Focus on Transparency

Crisis management starts with trust, which is built through consistent and honest actions. In 2025, prioritize:

• Open communication with employees, stakeholders, and customers. Clearly articulate your program goals, objectives, and why they matter.
• Acknowledging mistakes and outlining corrective actions when issues arise during responses.
• Embracing diverse perspectives — the best crisis teams include individuals with different experiences and viewpoints, leading to stronger decision-making and better outcomes.

3. Empower Teams Through Training

A resilient organization relies on well-trained and empowered teams. Strengthen preparedness by:

• Conducting regular crisis drills and tabletop exercises to simulate real-world scenarios.
• Providing specialized training for key team members in crisis communication, conflict de-escalation, and executive decision-making.
• Establishing clear roles and responsibilities and ensuring they are shared across all teams within the Organizational Resilience planning framework.

Prepared teams reduce the burden on leadership during high-pressure situations.

4. Leverage Technology to Enhance Response and Reduce Confusion

Technology is a valuable tool in Organizational Resilience — but it must be strategically integrated. Leaders should consider:

• Tools for real-time monitoring of emergency response actions, social listening programs that aggregate social media data, and integrations with daily operational systems (e.g., work order systems, HR tools, learning management systems).
• Cybersecurity alignment — partner with IT teams to ensure cybersecurity policies and emergency response protocols are streamlined, preventing unnecessary confusion during crises.

By leveraging technology, organizations can enhance situational awareness and improve responder safety. (Talk to Risk Resiliency to learn more.)

5. Prioritize Crisis Communication in Your Organizational Resilience Program

During a crisis, people seek clear, accurate, and actionable information. Strengthen your program by:

• Developing pre-approved messaging aligned with your risk register. These messages should express empathy, recognize the human impact of crises, and clearly outline necessary actions.
• Providing transparent, fact-based updates that instill confidence in your organization’s ability to respond effectively.
• Focusing on verified facts and maintaining credibility throughout the crisis response.

6. Build Long-Term Resilience

Resilience is about more than surviving a crisis — it’s about thriving in its aftermath.

• Integrate resilience into your operational strategy. This includes assessing risk through the lens of the Organizational Resilience Program, aligning emergency procedures with existing operational policies, and engaging operations teams to drive adaptability.
• Schedule structured reviews with stakeholders to continuously refine and improve crisis management plans.
• Celebrate successes by recognizing milestones through newsletters or CEO memos while using lessons learned to strengthen future response efforts.
• Review After Action Reports and assign clear ownership, completion timelines, and resources to ensure corrective actions are successfully implemented.

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By adopting these strategies, leaders can guide their organizations through uncertainty with confidence, ensuring not only survival but also growth in 2025 and beyond. The key is to lead with foresight, authenticity, and resilience — turning challenges into opportunities for long-term success