Leading in VUCA: Principals for Emerging Leaders` Eva McLellan B.Sc (Hon), M.Biotech
Let’s imagine for a minute…
What is VUCA?
-
• Volatility
• Uncertainty
• Complexity
• Ambiguity
Principles for Career Ascent
Principles for Leading Teams
Principles for Personal
Development
Based on my experience … 3 sets of personal principles in VUCA
Personal Development
Personal Development It all starts with YOU
Self Awareness: Need to dig deep to What do you stand
for? Your moral
compass.
Aspirational Career Vision:
What do you want to
achieve and why? What
are you willing to trade-off? Sacrifice?
Regular Reflection:
Step back regularly to reflect about
what is working? what isn’t?
and what I do about it?
Personal Development Four clusters of tools I have found valuable
Self Awareness Tools : • MBTI: Better understand
yourself • Insights discovery:
Understand how to best engage with others
• SDI personality test: Understand how your behavior changes during stress
• Strength finder 2.0: Build on your strengths
• 360 evolution – understand impressions you make on others. Formal and/or informal, sample forms available online
Systems Thinking Tools:
• Decision Criteria
• Mind maps
Inner Game Tools: Head Space App • Courage• Head
Space App
Reading Tools: • Discover your True
North, Bill George • Never Eat Alone,
Keith Ferrazzi • Understanding
Yourself, and Others, Linda Berens
Leading Teams
Leading teams in VUCA Four bedrock principles 1. Focus on core communication is power
– Clear Vision – Clear Aim – Team Charter
2. Facilitate anticipation in your team by: – Harness diversity of each individual – Boundary spanning - authentic collaboration across boundaries
3. Coach individuals to embrace the challenge inherit in VUCA – Some of the best leaders coach individuals to become
comfortable to live within the question – If I fail, I will come back with learnings for you = you win– If I success = you win
4. Learn from GEESE
Leading teams in VUCA Learn from GEESE
• Guide • Encourage• Empathize • Synergize• Empower
Career Ascent
“Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has
been.”- Wayne Gretzky
Where does my thinking on careers comes from?
My experience(local and global)
Top leaders in the
industry
Careers of my
strongest peers
Personal (and in progress) principles for careers in VUCA1. Be clear and steadfast about your true north.2. Follow the blue ocean strategy; there is less
competition and more opportunity.
3. Develop a personal objectives cascade and review it quarterly.
4. Take calculated risks. Develop your decision criteria for career moves and then stick to them.
5. Find a mentor and a sponsor.
6. Ask for feedback, regularly.
7. Be a sponge; be genuinely curious, listen deeply, and apply learnings consistently.
Things I’ve absorbed and have stuck with me…
Humility
FISO
Trends watch
Unique value
SCARF Model
ConfidenceCourage Anticipate
Prove yourself
Credibility
Internal Consultant
Curiosity
Intellectual capital
The future is bright… enjoy the ride!