Leading in a VUCA world !!

If you have experienced or are experiencing that things around you are volatile, uncertain, complex or ambiguous, let me formally welcome you to the VUCA world. Well, that is what VUCA stands for. When I first heard about this acronym, I could instantaneously identify with it … and why not? For some time now, every passing year, I put in more effort (than the preceding year) just to stay current and in the game. Most of the time, I end up feeling that it is not enough…more effort is required. Perpetually upgrading oneself is a concrete spin-off of the VUCA world. FOMO (fear of missing out) is another…I leave it to the discretion of my readers whether it is a major or minor one...??.

There is no escape from this global phenomenon. Intensity varies, depending upon where you are in terms of your job and life. We will explore some frameworks to handle the rate of change that can be a handful at times. So, jump on, and get some tips on how to lead in this VUCA world.

For starters, technology and digital adaption is a must. There is no escape. Adapt to the technology and digital interface you have been running away from, in your profession. Convergence has ensured the digital transformation of conventional vocation. Medicine, Education, Design, Architecture, Retail, Marketing, Finance, HR…you name it. It is now staring back at us in its digitized avatar. If you do not adapt and adopt, who is going to work with you?

Mental conditioning is next. Train your brain to be more flexible. Work with your thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs to accept diversity. Different is not bad. Try to be less judgemental and look at things with optimism and in a positive manner. Adapt a learner's attitude to life. Move towards optimizing your performance. Easier said than done, but with a narrow mindset and myopic vision, it is next to impossible to lead a diverse group and empathize with global stakeholders. Mental agility and emotional stability are a must.

There are several models that advocate survival and leadership in the VUCA world. I will talk about some of them.

Countering VUCA with VUCA (vision, understanding, clarity and agility). This is fairly simple to understand. Counter Volatility with Vision. The guiding principle is to freeze on your goals and define where you want to be in the future. Keep moving towards that. The bigger picture will give you perspective to counter aberrations and allow course corrections. Overcome Uncertainty with Understanding. Understand interconnections. Figure out the cause-and-effect relationship. Once you are able to do that, you will understand the pattern, and things will not appear that random.

Tackle Complexity with Clarity. Get to the root of the matter. Establish linear relations. You will get clarity. Remember, there is only one way to eat an elephant…one bite at a time…??!! Take on Ambiguity with Agility. An agile mind will help you to be flexible, resilient, and innovative. What has worked before might not work in new and unfamiliar situations. Remember- the rules have changed, frame of reference has changed…(in some cases the entire frame has changed…??) That is why “Learning on the go” and co-creation is becoming so important.

Next is the concept of an Infinite game and Infinite mind. (Refer: Finite & Infinite Games: Dr. James P. Carse; The Infinite Game: Simon Sinek). The finite game has a beginning and an ending. Examples of finite games include sports like Football, chess, etc. Players are known, Rules fixed, Endpoint clear. Winners & Losers are easily identified.?As opposed to finite games, in Infinite games players come and go. Rules change. No defined endpoint. No winners or losers. You are either ahead or behind.?Examples are Business, Knowledge, Life.

The problem arises when one plays an infinite game, with a finite mindset. How can you win in life or business or knowledge? Has anyone done that before you? An infinite mindset is to grow, evolve and level up…and continuing to play. Leaders who embrace an infinite mindset, build stronger, innovative, inspiring systems. Infinite Mindset develops clarity, agility, trust, and resilience in the VUCA world. The logic here is to be better than what you were yesterday. Level-up. To help you do that, build a strong support system around yourself, get inspired by people whom you think you can learn from, and be flexible. Develop Cognitive resilience and a growth mindset.

As the world evolves around us, we also need to evolve with the world. We need to move away from one correct solution to multiple correct possibilities. We need to hold opposing forces of disruption with harmony. Unless we are ready to change with changing times, these frameworks and principles do not mean anything.

I found the above frameworks practical, logical, and precise. They tell us to keep a long-term perspective, get out of imaginary competition and keep on evolving. They do show us the way. Tell us to be that calming influence in the chaos around us and get a grip on our lives. In the immortal words of Lao Tzu “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders”.??????

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