Tips for Leading in a V.U.C.A. World

In early 2020 we entered the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) world big time. These four words, which are borrowed from the description of the world at the end of the Cold War by the US military, certainly apply to today’s highly anxious 24/7 COVID world as well.

Let’s take a closer look at how we may be perceiving the situation today.

In the research and 2009 published works by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey — Immunity to Change, the concept of the Worry Box is introduced as an image of a foreboding “big assumption” that people often make when confronted with a challenge.

VUCA World

Their research revealed the natural tendency people have to conjure up a terrible scenario when faced with a big challenge where the stakes are high, and outcomes are not assured. The envisioned calamity, which is often a false narrative, arises out of fear initially and without objective thinking can spiral down to the point of irrational behavior driven by both actual and perceived threats. The irrational behavior arises largely from unconscious reactive patterns which if left unchecked, can spread like wildfire in a family, team, organization, nation or even a civilization.

In our Resilient Leadership (RL) training and coaching programs, we offer many resources and tools to help leaders recognize and manage their reactivity. Our programs help our clients See, Think and Act with greater calm as they stay connected to reality and stay convicted to a rational course of action.

Acknowledging that all systems (natural, manmade and social) are in a constant state of transformation, Resilient Leadership stands firms as a fully effective remedy to today’s VUCA world.

Jim Moyer

Jim Moyer
To learn more about coaching and leading in our VUCA world with Resilient Leadership concepts, contact Jim at jimm@resilientleadershipdevelopment.com.