VUCA needs VUCA
A way of reimagining the acronym VUCA for our teams.
You may be familiar with the acronym VUCA. It stands for volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. The term has been around for over 30 years and was popularised in military circles in the early 2000s.
In a leadership development program a few years ago, I was talking to the group about the idea of VUCA. Over lunch, I was thinking about what this meant for how the best leaders and teams respond to the VUCA world. What I came up with was unscientific, but seemed useful. Here it is for your consideration – VUCA needs VUCA.
VOLATILE NEEDS VULNERABLE
The rapid and unpredictable nature of changes that we are experiencing challenges us from knowing what the ‘right’ answer is. We are in situations that are without precedent so we can’t rely fully on history to guide us. The fact that there may not be one right answer (there may be none or there may be many) means that we need to open ourselves up to more possibilities and let go of being the expert. Questions become more powerful than answers.
UNCERTAIN NEEDS USEFUL
Because we are grappling with the idea that there may not be one right answer, trying to be right can feel a little like nailing jelly to the wall. Difficult and not likely to last very long even if you somehow manage it! Aiming for utility is a more productive use of our energy, attention and time. This is not to excuse behaviour that is purely short term. Quite often being useful in a VUCA world means being able to see the bigger picture – taking the longer, slower road that leads further.
COMPLEX NEEDS CURIOUS
A hallmark of complexity is that there is not a linear relationship between cause and effect. What we need is to be able to view the whole system (or systems) that we are operating in, notice patterns and run experiments. Developing a genuine interest in what is happening is an essential skill for a VUCA world. The best tool at our disposal for this is to develop our appetite and capacity for reflection.
AMBIGUOUS NEEDS ADAPTABLE
It seems obvious that to operate in a world that is changing fast, those that can change fast will be at an advantage. Hierarchical and process driven ways of working struggle to respond quickly enough and often find themselves continuously one (or many) steps behind where they need to be.
Some questions for you to consider:
What will it take for you to be more vulnerable?
Can you shift your mindset to being useful rather than being right?
How can you cultivate a sense of curiosity in yourself and others?
When was the last time you were able to be adaptable?