So you got the job. Now what? Join me, Eleni Mata, on HBR's new original podcast, New

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Welcome to the HBR Idea Cast from Harvard Business Review. I'm Kurt Nickish.

There's a basic practice of driving a car that applies to business downturns and unexpected

detours, and that's driving in a curve. When you approach one, it's best to slow down

before you get to it. You don't slam the brakes when you're in it. That's dangerous.

And then, part way through the curve, you start hitting the gas pedal and accelerate out

of the curve. Companies that do this in economic downturns can come out of them in a very different

competitive position. Research shows that many of those that invest in technology and their

workforces, while still in the recession, go from being industry laggards to leaders.

And today's guest says that applies to the current curve ball that's been thrown at

businesses, the pandemic. He says it would be a mistake to come out of it thinking it's

time to go back to work, back to a new normal. Rather, he makes the case that organizations

and their leaders need to keep leveling up all of this nimbleness and resilience they've

learned over the last couple of years to slingshot forward into the future.

Our guest today is Keith Farasi. He's the founder of the consulting firm Farasi Greenlight,

and he's the lead author of the book, Competing in the New World of Work. Our radical

adaptability separates the best from the rest. Hey, Keith, thanks for coming on the show.

Kurt, what a great introduction. Thank you so much for that, and I'm great to see you again.

Adaptability has always been a powerful business concept, right? But you've got that word

radical in the title, radical adaptability. It's almost like you're trying to shake people

...