A description of our VUCA world and how leaders can navigate it.

1. We live in a VUCA world
and how Leaders can navigate it
by Colin Ramsay

2. Volatile
Uncertain
Complex
Ambiguous
"the new
normal"

3. Where did VUCA come from?
US army war
college, leadership
primer 3rd edition
Colonel Stephen J
Gerras, PhD, Professor of
behavioural sciences

4. to deal with a changing battlescape...

5. business leaders face a similar,
challenging, dynamic landscape

6. Volatile
exponentially accelerating change with
record levels of market volatility (VIX)

7. Volatile
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rapid advances in computing power,
are catalysing bio, nano, robotics
and infotech growth to record levels

8. Volatile
unprecedented access to knowledge,
24hr news, viral stories and ever
expanding social networks & media

9. Uncertain
?
?
?
the inability to know everything,
the lack of predictability and
likelihood of “surprise” events

10. Complex
The multiplex of forces, the chaos
and confusion that surround an
organization or environment

11. Ambiguous
differences in interpretation
when contextual clues are
insufficient to clarify meaning

12. Volatile
Uncertain
Complex
Ambiguous
"the new
normal"

13. As a leader, how can
you navigate the VUCA
world?
VUCA
ACUV

14. Vision
Understanding
Clarity
Agility

15. Vision
COMMUNICATE - relentlessly communicate a sense of
purpose and lead people towards it
BELIEF - in yourself and others, supported by facts and
evidence
FOCUS - ensure your team’s efforts are aligned and
focused on the right areas
HY
W

16. Understanding
CURIOSITY - ask questions (coach) that challenge the
status quo in your organization every day
EMPATHY - get where people are coming from - their
hopes, fears and desires
OPEN MIND - explore new ideas, reflect and seek
constructive criticism

17. Clarity
SIMPLIFY - chop the fat, cut through the complexity and
distill the core down to its essence
INTUITION - use the gift of knowing without reasoning,
trust your gut and your experience
SYSTEMS THINKING - approach problems from a holistic
perspective (a system of dynamic, interacting, interdependent parts)

18. Agility
DECISIVENESS - adapt quickly to changing circumstances
and make decisions with confidence
INNOVATE OR DIE - learn from your mistakes and
continuously seek new ways to get better at what you do
EMPOWER - value networks over hierarchy, collaboration
over control and set people free to do great work

19. made with google docs using google images