The certainty we can choose to have in our uncharted future

Listen to the podcast version of this post

VUCA is popular again. Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity are definitely part of life. They are one side of the coin.

The other side is Dependable, Predictable, Simple and Clear.

And then the edge of the coin is what Margaret Heffernan might call Uncharted which is the title of her new book. You can get this book here. A key to sustaining harmony is controlling the controllable's and maintaining peace of heart and mind.

A key to all of this is your change process. Do you have one?

If you are familiar with my work you will know mine. 

1. Appreciate what is, 

2. Imagine what can be,

3. Create quantum leaps (that’s small yet significant shifts) to move from what is to what can be.

4. Take the leaps.

5. Repeat.

The first four shifts gain momentum. Repeating the four shifts sustains momentum.  Quantum leaps allow for adjustments in the moment as you go.

There's a podcast here about these.

In addition to Dependable, Predictable, Simple and Clear, I’m also a fan of the idea of ‘SUPER VUCA by Kevin Roberts. He says “our job as creative leaders is to turn a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous world into one that is  Vibrant, Unreal, Crazy and Astounding."

Here is a 4 minutes and 46 seconds video from Kevin on this. 

My friend and colleague Gihan Perera wrote this great article on LinkedIn in 2015. Gihan says:

1. Expose Volatility: Do Rock the Boat

2. Use Uncertainty: Start Before You’re Ready

3. Challenge Complexity: Cut Through The Clutter

4. Act On Ambiguity: Seek Clarity

Here’s the thing, and one of the wonders of the modern world, help and suggestions are a click, a telephone call or a Zoom away.

Our future is mostly uncharted. Nobody has a crystal ball. Nevertheless we can thrive.

We just need to follow a change process and to choose wisely in each moment.

The immortal words of Viktor Frankl are here to guide us 

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. 


In that space is our power to choose our response.

In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Who will you become? What will you do next?

Become the wise leader you want to be.

Ian

PS “We cannot solve problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein