Bracing for the storm
On the Gulf Coast, we know how to prepare for hurricane season. Its annual presence is a fact of life here from June through November, with mid-August through late October being the peak. Gathering supplies and arranging disaster kits, along with checking in on those in our charge, are the top priorities. Barren shelves that once held our clean water are prevalent throughout our neighborhood markets. ‘Tis the season for ensuring first aid is available and vehicles are gassed up if we must evacuate. For those who can’t leave on their own, there’s a friend, family member, or neighbor in mind before the ask is ever made. Tuning in to media channels to ensure we’re updated on the storm’s trajectory and the best evacuation route is a must, right? If we can rely on step-by-step processes to create safer havens for our family and neighbors before a storm hits, then we surely can create reliable systems for our businesses and the people who help operate them. You’ve experienced enough hurricanes to never face another one unprepared. Your business deserves the same readiness.
BY SABRINA NARCISSE
BUILDING BUSINESS RESILIENCE Threats to our business arrive like inclement weather. There’s never certainty about when or if risk will make landfall, yet we rarely prep for it the way we prep for a storm. BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS INVOLVES: • assembling workflow toolkits; • writing actionable standard operating procedures; • mapping who makes which decisions; • and keeping a close watch on the horizon. This environmental scanning is a critical measure. Every Gulf Coast native or longstanding resident knows no two storms are the same. The plan you created last year must be adjusted for this year’s climate. A system that isn’t built to adapt isn’t a resilient one. Generative AI advances are the clearest sign that the ground is shifting under every industry all at once.
ADAPTING TO MODERN INDUSTRIAL SHIFTS This isn’t the first time stability has been threatened across industries. In the late 1700s, steam power began moving into factories, and owners had to rebuild their operations around this disruptor or face being surpassed by those who did. Today, that disruptor is AI. If you haven’t already, start by noticing where AI is already part of your work: in the software your team uses and the way customers find you. These planning and review measures exist so critical decisions aren’t made as the water rises.
Sabrina Narcisse is the managing principal of Sabrina Narcisse Consulting. Reach her at info@sabrinanarcisse.com.
November 2026
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