Before The Next Storm: Why Resilience Is A Relational Investment (Forbes)
Published March, 2026
Dr. Carylynn Kemp Larson uses a powerful real-world metaphor—a community’s response to a winter ice storm—to explore how the strength of a community is revealed in moments of challenge, but built long before them. Drawing parallels between neighborhoods and workplaces, she highlights how everyday behaviors shape whether a culture becomes supportive and resilient or isolated and fragile.
Through what she calls the “sidewalk test,” she illustrates how individual choices—whether to help, ask for help, or prioritize only personal needs—collectively determine the quality of a community. These same dynamics, she argues, are present in organizations, where resilience is not created in times of crisis, but through consistent, relational habits over time.
Dr. Larson outlines three core principles for building stronger communities: intentional investment in relationships, normalizing the act of asking for help, and recognizing that the support we receive is influenced by how we contribute to others. Ultimately, she emphasizes that thriving cultures are not accidental—they are the result of deliberate, everyday actions that foster connection, trust, and shared responsibility.
Key Takeaways
Community is revealed in moments of stress—but built in everyday actions.
The strength of a culture is not created during a crisis, but through consistent, relational habits over time.Small choices shape the quality of a community.
Everyday decisions—whether to help, connect, or prioritize only personal needs—collectively define the culture.Investment is required for meaningful connection.
Strong communities don’t happen by accident; they are built through intentional time, attention, and care.Asking for help strengthens the system.
Vulnerability allows teams to share challenges early, prevent burnout, and maintain momentum.Isolation weakens both individuals and organizations.
Self-sufficiency may feel productive, but it often leads to disconnection and reduced resilience.Support is influenced by contribution.
People are more likely to show up for those who consistently invest in others and the collective good.Leadership moments happen every day.
Leaders shape culture through small, consistent choices—not just during major events or crises.Resilient cultures are built before they’re needed.
The ability to navigate future challenges depends on the strength of relationships already in place.
Authored by Carylynn Kemp Larson,