How Can Leaders Thrive Through Times of V.U.C.A.?

Profile Picture of Post's Author Kristy Pagel | Posted October 27, 2021

Hey, it’s crazy out there! The daily challenges facing business owners, managers, leaders, employees, and well, let’s face it, the world we live in can easily be summed up as V.U.C.A., short for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. These factors make it harder for businesses to operate, no doubt, but the reality is that you can thrive through times of V.U.C.A. It’s a choice. It’s your choice to make. Thriving is an option!

As it turns out, fellow blog authors on the GPS Dairy Consulting, LLC website have provided background of the acronym V.U.C.A. (see previous blogs: Change or Else, How to Thrive in these Turbulent Times and V.U.C.A & Business Survival)

So, how can leaders thrive through times of V.U.C.A.? Turn that crazy upside down and change the V.U.C.A script by controlling what you can control. You can change uncertainty to understanding; complexity to clarity; and ambiguity to agility. It’s about focusing on:

  • Staying grounded to your mission and values. Pause and listen to those around you to ensure things are not off-track. These are foundational during V.U.C.A times.
  • Taking “inventory” and break V.U.C.A down – access where you are today as it relates to your business. Think people, processes, things going well, areas of opportunity as it relates to volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Determine where you want to be as an organization and identify a timeline in which you want/need to accomplish these items. This will then allow you to begin to develop your blueprint for implementation and execution a plan. By doing this, you are taking control. Taking the necessary time to do this you stop the “crazy” and it will provide direction and vision for those that work with you. Vision counteracts volatility.
  • Leveraging the strengths and talents of each person on the team. This is critical. Awareness and assignment of work based of each team members strengths will increase your ability to control the crazy, increase engagement, and drive productive results. As the new ideas surface, allow leaders to problem-solve the situations and implement action plans. They will feel a sense of empowerment when allowed to leverage their strengths and natural talents.
  • Remain flexible and willing to adjust as situations will continue to arise. By flipping the crazy upside down, leaders can and will lead in new ways and see the opportunities that lie within the challenges, rather than letting fear of the unknown drive business strategy. Focusing on one situation at a time will allow you to control what you can control. You can change uncertainty to understanding; complexity to clarity; and ambiguity to agility.
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