Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity: The world we live in

If you have done some reading on leadership and leadership theory, you have most probably come across this acronym – VUCA – volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Supposedly first introduced by the U.S. Army War College to describe the kind of world we were living in at the end of the Cold War, it has been more recently and widely referred to as a help in reflecting upon the current realities of the world we live in today.  

Of course, we also might wonder when the world has ever not been VUCA? When have we ever not needed the quality of being able to adjust to volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous conditions? When has it ever not been important to be adaptable? The current crisis has brought the need for adaptability to the forefront for almost everyone, but it’s always been an important quality for the entrepreneur. Success or failure often hinges on reading VUCA conditions insightfully and making critical, timely adjustments.

How are you doing adapting to the VUCA conditions we face today? Have you adjusted and adopted some new ways of doing things? Have you found the silver linings and the new opportunities? We have been challenged and encouraged by so many of our friends and clients. They have probably helped us to adapt more than we have helped them. It is a quality that we are going to continue to need. VUCA conditions show no sign of going away, and maybe they have always been with us anyway.

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