HOW TO LEAD IN A VUCA WORLD

WHAT IS VUCA?

VUCA is an acronym – first used in 1987, and later following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 – used to describe the Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity of certain situations.  In the business world, VUCA therefore represents the challenges that leaders, teams, and organisations as a whole, all have to face, and is particularly relevant in the Covid-19 world we find ourselves living in.

Taking each in turn, Volatility describes the dynamic rate of change in a world that’s becoming more unstable and where changes are becoming more unpredictable and dramatic; Uncertainty relates to a lack of predictability of how unanticipated events will unfold, resulting in less possibilities to plan; Complexity describes the multi-layered problems and their repercussions, making it impossible to see how things are related; and ambiguity acknowledges that things are not always completely clear or determinable – not everything is black and white.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES WITH A VUCA ENVIRONMENT?

The business world has changed dramatically over recent years, but never more so than now, in a prolonged period of uncertainty and change for the entire world and global economy. A VUCA environment can overwhelm people and make them worried and anxious, sapping their motivation, and paralyzing their decision-making process – as well as taking a hefty toll on the internal culture of organisations.

HOW TO LEAD IN VUCA WORLD:

The biggest challenge leaders are facing is the distinct lack of certainty and ever-changing processes and protocols. Everything is now even more complex than ever before and it’s incredibly difficult to plan. We no longer know all the answers, nor can we predict future trends. We also may not have the appropriate tools to be effective and productive. But there are still things you and your team can do to mitigate the effects of a VUCA world, and even use it to your advantage:

Embrace Change

Change will always be a prevalent part of our working lives and so we need to learn to accept and embrace change instead of resisting it. Lean into the challenges and make space for opportunities to arise. Change is what allows us to grow and develop as people, and it’s important we are able to cope with change in a positive and productive way.

Be Agile

Agility, flexibility, and adaptability should be at the top of your agenda – and whilst it’s important to plan ahead, work in some space and contingency time, and be prepared to alter and adjust these plans as you go. Encourage team members to develop their skills and experience by taking on functions outside of their usual area of expertise. Cross training can be a great way to improve team agility.

Communicate & Collaborate

When things are complex and uncertain, it’s important to be able to communicate clearly with your team. Most importantly, promote a collaborative environment where people feel able to participate, and offer their opinions and ideas. VUCA situations are often too convoluted to be handled alone, so building an effective team is crucial to thrive in a fast-paced, unpredictable environment.

HOW DISTINCTIONS COACHING CAN HELP:

Executive coaching plays a central role in the current times we are living and working in, as leaders are required to be highly adaptable and responsive to fast-paced change, and to think creatively and innovatively in order to thrive. Coaching enables the individual to pause and reflect, to become more self-aware, and to develop the tools required to respond more effectively to complex situations. Equally, our team coaching offering helps teams to work together towards a common purpose, improve their performance, and take affirmative action towards delivering their strategic goals.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Joanna: joanna@distinctionscoaching.com