Leading in a VUCA World

A few weeks back at work a colleague of mine shared a story that struck me. He was speaking with individuals who teach at the US Naval War College. One of the subjects they teach is leading in a VUCA environment.

For those unfamiliar with the term VUCA it stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Unlike any other time I’ve experienced, we are living in a VUCA world with COVID-19, racial injustice, and a chaotic political environment to only name a few.

(I was told this story second hand; my recounting is as I understood it. Regardless of the accuracy of the details, the insight for me still rings true.) 

The most important thing for leading in a VUCA world is for the leader to have a firm understanding of oneself and a clarity around how they lead and show up with others.

The world around us may be volatile, uncertain complex and ambiguous but if the team member knows what to expect from their leader they can face and perform at a high level in any environment they are put in.

It is the understanding of self and strong commitment to values and character that changes the way teams respond in crisis.

I found this insight to be incredibly valuable. It gives me pause to reflect on who I am, what I stand for and how I choose to be firm in who I am and the values I hold dear.

Review the past two weeks – when have you clearly demonstrated your values?

This article first appeared on my blog at joshnicholls.me