Leadership in a VUCA World

“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” ~Steve Maraboli

Does volatility or uncertainty about the future cause you to delay decisions? Do you find it hard to make even simple decisions?

58% of businesses make decisions based on outdated information.

65% of decisions are more complex (involving more stakeholders or choices) than two years ago.

We live in a VUCA world (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity). It’s a fact. Things are changing and more complex. How do you lead when you can’t control the outcome? The answer is by building resilience and flexibility in the process.

Resilience is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties.” I think it is the ability to bounce back, and adjust quickly —> to pivot.

So what can you do to lead in a VUCA world?

• Have a clear and compelling vision for the future that you share regularly with your team so you’re all pointed in the same direction.

• Collaborate with diverse teams, partners, and stakeholders. Solve shared goals by looking at the root cause of issues from diverse perspectives. Have open communication. Make sure you’re listening to all points of view. Sometimes the quietest person in the room has the insights you need to break through.

• Continuously innovate and experiment to meet evolving client needs. Look for opportunities. Stay on top of industry trends to have time to react. Be flexible. Adjust as you gain insights. Plan for various scenarios.

• Create a culture of resilience so you have the ability to bounce back from setbacks and persevere. Take care of your team. Prevent burnout.

• Remain Positive. Appreciate the team. Celebrate successes and look for positive evidence of progress. Be excited about the future possibilities.

Let’s start a conversation about building resilience and leading in a VUCA world so you and your team can be even more successful.