Thriving in a VUCA World

Earlier this week I attended the annual conference of the Executive MBA Council where directors of these programs from across the globe gather once a year to share best practices, concerns, and plans for the future.

A common concern that was expressed: “How do we prepare executives to survive in VUCA world?”  Indeed, the environment in which we all operate is increasingly:

Volatile.

Uncertain.

Complex.

Ambiguous.

Taking the contrarian view, I’ll actually suggest that the VUCA world provides even more opportunity than ever before for leaders who are Externally Focused, have Clarity of Purpose, and remain Nimble.

Externally Focused.  Thriving in a VUCA world takes vigilant attention to trends and changes in the environment.  What are you reading and who are you talking to about changes in the environment?  Make sure to get out of the office regularly and talk with clients, collaborators, and even competitors.

Clarity of Purpose.  With mission firmly in mind and – hopefully – specific mission metrics and goals, you can stay on course even as the environment churns about you.  Today’s environment has been described as “permanent whitewater.”  Swimming in an ocean of whitewater requires you to keep focused on the specific spot on shore where you are going.  This allows you to adjust rather than getting swept where the waves want to take you.

Nimble.  Don’t be wedded to past practices if you aren’t getting the results you need.  The VUCA world requires creative responses to changes in the environment.  Make sure that you and your team remain focused on results, not process.

If you do these things and – as the saying goes – “keep your head while those around you are losing theirs,” then you will see and seize opportunities that others miss.  And that will continually enhance your Mission Impact.

For more ideas on how you can lead breakthroughs in your organization, follow this blog and check out my web site at www.SheehanNonprofitConsulting.com   You will find free resources you can download, including a Breakthrough Strategy Workbook that you can download at no cost.  You can also check out my book, Mission Impact:  Breakthrough Strategies for Nonprofits, and buy it if you are interested.  And you can follow Sheehan Nonprofit Consulting on Facebook.

When Are You at Your Best?

“Being extraordinary . . . means pursuing our full potential.”*

You have had moments of performing at an extraordinary level; maybe many moments.  It feels really great, doesn’t it!?!

What would it be like to have a job and set of work responsibilities that gave you the opportunity to feel that way on a regular basis?  Right!  Awesome!!!

So how can you make that happen?

First, you need to understand more about what you are truly great at – naturally.  Last year, I blogged about using the Clifton StrengthsFinder™ as one means to learn about your natural strengths.  Here’s another method, called the Reflected Best Self Exercise™ or RBSE.

I am going to give you an overview of the RBSE.  If you want to learn more, then check out the Harvard Business Review** article I provide details about below and/or go to this link at the University of Michigan – this is where the RBSE was invented (and it must be good if an Ohio State alum is recommending something from UM).

In this exercise, you make a list of people (ideally 10 – 20) who know you well and you ask them to provide you with feedback on the unique ways they have noticed you making an important contribution – with specific examples. You will find it inspiring to read all of the examples of how extraordinary you really are!

Next you look for patterns between the different examples and compose a “portrait” of yourself when you are at your best.  Write up your “best self” as a “reflection” of those talents that others have identified.

Now design your ideal job – a job which would allow you to bring your “best self” to it every day.  And then begin to move toward it.  I understand reality – and maybe you cannot completely change jobs soon.  But try to make changes at the margins – to take on responsibilities that allow you to express your “best self” while trading some others out. 

It will take time, but use your Reflected Best Self as your North Star.  Keep moving toward it during your career with the vision of the opportunity to be extraordinary on a regular basis!

*R. E. & G. T. Quinn, Letters to Garrett, Jossey-Bass, 2002.

**“How to Play to Your Strengths,” Harvard Business Review, Roberts, Spreitzer, Dutton, et al, January 2005.

For more ideas on how you can lead breakthroughs in your organization, follow this blog and check out my web site at www.SheehanNonprofitConsulting.com   You will find free resources you can download, including a Breakthrough Strategy Workbook that you can download at no cost.  You can also check out my book, Mission Impact:  Breakthrough Strategies for Nonprofits, and buy it if you are interested.  And you can follow Sheehan Nonprofit Consulting on Facebook.

A Cool Tool Gets Cooler

A couple of years ago I blogged about the Organization Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT) that McKinsey & Co developed in partnership with Venture Philanthropy Partners (“A Cool Tool”).  Well, now the 2.0 version is out and it is even cooler.

The OCAT allows an organization to perform a thorough self-analysis of its operations and performance.  It asks questions in seven general categories that McKinsey believes to be important to performance:  Aspirations, Strategies, Organizational Skills, Human Resource, Systems & Infrastructure, Organizational Structure, and Culture.  I think it does an excellent job of capturing important aspects of performance in each of these areas.  It provides an opportunity to evaluate performance and plan for improvements.  I highly recommend it.

So what is more cool about 2.0?

McKinsey has sharpened the questions asked in each section.  But more important, one of the drawbacks of the first version is that it was only available as a pdf version.  So that made administering it difficult.  You can to photocopy it, get people to fill it out, and then collate all of the responses.  Those days are over.

Version 2.0 is available as an on-line tool.  When your organization is ready to do the self-assessment, you simply register on line
(https://mckinseyonsociety.com/ocat/) and each person you want to complete it can do that at their own pace.  When all responses are complete then a report that collates all of the responses is produced.  Simple, thorough, helpful.

And all of this is provided free of charge!  Thanks McKinsey!

How might you use this?

SWOT Analysis.  It gives you a thorough, standard tool to evaluate Strengths & Weaknesses.

Organizational Check-Up.  You can use this at any time to give you a nice snapshot of how well you are performing.

Senior Team Review.  Once you have completed the assessment, then it provides a helpful document for the senior team to review quarterly, for example, to monitor your progress.

Check out the OCAT 2.0 today and learn how you can improve your performance and enhance your Mission Impact.

For more ideas on how you can lead breakthroughs in your organization, follow this blog and check out my web site at www.SheehanNonprofitConsulting.com   You will find free resources you can download, including a Breakthrough Strategy Workbook that you can download at no cost.  You can also check out my book, Mission Impact:  Breakthrough Strategies for Nonprofits, and buy it if you are interested.  And you can follow Sheehan Nonprofit Consulting on Facebook.