When Experience Alone Is No Longer Enough
In times of uncertainty, experience alone is no longer enough. Professor Amy C. Edmondson explains why learning, adaptability, and the ability to question assumptions are becoming essential for effective leadership.
These developments were recently explored in an interview conducted by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) with Amy C. Edmondson, Professor at Harvard Business School and one of the world's leading experts on learning culture, leadership, and psychological safety. Edmondson's central argument is clear: in a world of growing complexity, adaptability is becoming more important than the belief in stability.
The Illusion of Stability
Many organizations achieve success over many years by optimizing processes, minimizing risks, and relying on proven practices. Yet, according to Edmondson, this is precisely where a danger lies: success can obscure an organization's ability to recognize change.
She explains how geopolitical developments, technological innovations, and societal shifts are increasingly challenging traditional assumptions and certainties. Leaders are therefore required not only to act efficiently but also to remain attentive to emerging developments and weak signals that may indicate future change.
Future-Ready Organizations Learn
Adaptability, however, should not be confused with a lack of direction. Resilient organizations are guided by a clear purpose and shared values. At the same time, they are willing to question assumptions, experiment with new approaches, and learn from experience. According to Prof. Dr. David Seidl, these are also essential success factors for organizational transformation.
In this context, Edmondson speaks of "intelligent failure." This refers to deliberately taken, calculated risks from which valuable insights can be gained. The focus is not on avoiding mistakes altogether, but on the ability to learn from setbacks and continuously evolve.
Leadership Under Uncertainty Can Be Trained
The challenge is that such capabilities can only be taught to a limited extent in traditional seminars. Anyone seeking to develop leadership skills for complex situations must experience complexity firsthand.
This is exactly where Future Mind® comes in, a new offering by the Executive Education Department of the University of Zurich for decision-makers. In a three-day business simulation, participants make decisions under conditions of uncertainty, experience the immediate consequences of their actions, and reflect on their own leadership behavior. The goal is to develop the capabilities that are becoming increasingly important in dynamic environments: self-reflection, willingness to learn, adaptability, problem-solving skills, and collaboration.
From Theory to Experience
Amy Edmondson emphasizes that learning begins when people are willing to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and experiment with new solutions. Sustainable leadership development is not achieved through additional concepts alone, but through experience, reflection, and the conscious management of uncertainty.
Source: Amy C. Edmondson in an interview with Felix E. Müller, “Some Things Must Change, Some Must Not”, NZZ supplement Swiss Economic Forum, May 30, 2026.
Interested?
Future Mind® – Leading When It Matters Most
September 3-5, 2026
Together with Transformation Management AG, the University of Zurich's Executive Education team offers Future Mind®, an innovative learning experience that enables leaders and employees to develop future-oriented capabilities in realistic settings and enhance their personal future readiness. Further information (in German) can be found here.