The business landscape has been nothing short of intriguing in the last few years. Its cycles of continuous change mean that leaders must be prepared to navigate uncertainty and make informed decisions.
Two popular frameworks for guiding leaders are VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) and BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible). As leaders get ready to deliver on their 2024 adaptable strategies, critical questions arise:
- Are they ready for accelerated growth, unexpected twists, and shifts in power dynamics?
- Are they prioritizing their own stamina, resilience, and capabilities to navigate the challenging terrain ahead?
Even with coaching, preparing for states of VUCA and BANI demands strategic innovation:
1. Building Leadership Stamina and Resilience
Amidst chaos and complexity, stamina and resilience often take a backseat. Yet they are the foundation for handling VUCA and BANI challenges. Mental health, physical strength, and the ability to adapt are crucial. Curve balls will keep coming. Are you creating the mental space to see them coming? Do you possess the physical stamina needed for unforeseen challenges?
2. Embracing Flexibility
Surprise is the new game in today’s leadership landscape. Be prepared for constant change. Imagine being acquired and joining a new senior team. You’ll need to adapt your leadership style, support your team differently, and navigate a new environment. This demands a willingness to learn, adapt, and build relationships with new colleagues. Embrace the unknown as an opportunity for growth.
3. Taking Risks, Innovating, and Adapting
Leaders tied to the past may struggle with the risks demanded by the VUCA and BANI environments. It’s crucial to cultivate these three competencies: risk taking, innovation, and adaptability. Develop these competencies through coaching, take online classes, and read or listen to books like Vijay Govindarajan’s The Three Box Solution: A Strategy for Leading Innovation. Ask yourself:
- Where in my role would taking more risk be beneficial?
- How would increased innovation benefit my team and organization?
- What change am I ready to embrace?
It’s time to thrive in the VUCA and BANI world. If you want to improve building leadership stamina and resilience, learn to think differently and flex, and learn to take more risks, innovate, and adapt to change, then grab yourself a coach and let’s start working on this today!
Elevate your Leadership Potential
To learn more about building leadership stamina and executive coaching, reach out to Lyne for a consultation.