Leading in a VUCA Environment

By August 18, 2015Workplace

The one thing you can count on in the contemporary workplace is change!  Never has this been more true that now.  Whether you work in the government or private sector, the nature, dynamics and speed of change can be staggering – if not overwhelming.  Many leaders face difficulties in predicting outcomes because of the complexity of the situation and the haziness of information.

A VUCA environment is one marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Anyone who wants to be successful  must learn how to see and manage the the VUCA inherent in their organisation.  Leadership in this context requires adaptability and creativity, and a high tolerance for uncertainty and ‘shades of grey.’

This diagram, featured in the January – February 2014 issue of Harvard Business Review, is a useful reminder that:

  • A leader can prepare for a VUCA world.
  • A one size fits all approach doesn’t work – a leader must not conflate the elements of  VUCA but instead respond differently to each of the four distinct components of VUCA.

Leave a Reply