Warren Bennis, an American scholar and a pioneer of the contemporary field of Leadership Studies said that success in management requires learning as fast as the world is changing. Especially, we are now moving into digital age and everything moves very fast. If we cannot keep up with those changes, we will be left behind. This article will explore 4 key areas to deal with fast changing world.
American Military used an acronym called VUCA to describe extreme conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq. It stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. Actually, VUCA does not exist only in Afghanistan and Iraq, it can be found in countries, townships, families and organizations. It is everywhere and always give hard time to leaders.
Volatile: Things are not very easy to predict like before. With the new technology, the world becomes like a big village and smaller. Everything can happen at any time in anywhere.
Uncertain: Nothing is permanent and today's business world is full of uncertainty. If we want to make decisions only when we knows things very clearly, we may never make decisions in this fast changing world.
Complex: Almost all situations are very complicated in the business now a day. Leaders are facing many problems and challenges related to many rules and regulations which need to be compliance with, a lot requirements, product issues.
Ambiguous: Everything is unclear and vague. Unclear situations, policies, rules & regulations make leaders confused. It is very hard for leaders to make clear decisions.
Therefore, a leader must understand the word VUCA that is used to describe extreme conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Leaders must create another VUCA in order to deal with the VUCA that is meant for the extreme conditions. They are Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Agility.
Vision: Since the future is not easy to be predicted, leaders must have a clear vision where they want to go. Leader without having any sense of direction will fail in the long run.
Understanding: Leader must be able to understand the situations where there is full of uncertainty. Leader must understand their business, the situations they are in, and people who they are dealing with.
Clarity: Most of the business situations are complex and complicated, leaders must be able to see things clearly and create clarity. They must be able to clarify things which are not sure or unclear.
Agility: When things are unclear and vague, it will very hard for leaders to make decisions. Therefore, leader must have agility and must have ability to move quickly and easily.
There is only one thing that is not changed is change. Leaders must face the VUCA world with clear thoughts (Head), correct mindset and right attitude (Heart), and the courage to make things happens (Hand). In other words, leaders must have a clear vision, they must be able to understand the situations and people, they must be able to see things clearly, and they must be able to move quickly and easily. By doing so, leader will be able to lead their people to survive in the VUCA work that is extremely difficult.
By Cary Win
Article Source: Leading People in the VUCA World
American Military used an acronym called VUCA to describe extreme conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq. It stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. Actually, VUCA does not exist only in Afghanistan and Iraq, it can be found in countries, townships, families and organizations. It is everywhere and always give hard time to leaders.
Volatile: Things are not very easy to predict like before. With the new technology, the world becomes like a big village and smaller. Everything can happen at any time in anywhere.
Uncertain: Nothing is permanent and today's business world is full of uncertainty. If we want to make decisions only when we knows things very clearly, we may never make decisions in this fast changing world.
Complex: Almost all situations are very complicated in the business now a day. Leaders are facing many problems and challenges related to many rules and regulations which need to be compliance with, a lot requirements, product issues.
Ambiguous: Everything is unclear and vague. Unclear situations, policies, rules & regulations make leaders confused. It is very hard for leaders to make clear decisions.
Therefore, a leader must understand the word VUCA that is used to describe extreme conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Leaders must create another VUCA in order to deal with the VUCA that is meant for the extreme conditions. They are Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Agility.
Vision: Since the future is not easy to be predicted, leaders must have a clear vision where they want to go. Leader without having any sense of direction will fail in the long run.
Understanding: Leader must be able to understand the situations where there is full of uncertainty. Leader must understand their business, the situations they are in, and people who they are dealing with.
Clarity: Most of the business situations are complex and complicated, leaders must be able to see things clearly and create clarity. They must be able to clarify things which are not sure or unclear.
Agility: When things are unclear and vague, it will very hard for leaders to make decisions. Therefore, leader must have agility and must have ability to move quickly and easily.
There is only one thing that is not changed is change. Leaders must face the VUCA world with clear thoughts (Head), correct mindset and right attitude (Heart), and the courage to make things happens (Hand). In other words, leaders must have a clear vision, they must be able to understand the situations and people, they must be able to see things clearly, and they must be able to move quickly and easily. By doing so, leader will be able to lead their people to survive in the VUCA work that is extremely difficult.
By Cary Win
Article Source: Leading People in the VUCA World
