In response to this coronavirus pandemic, we took the work we were already doing with some of our collaborators (Carol Mase and Tom Roy) and distilled it into the basics, which we are offering as a PDF.
Malcolm Gladwell on spaghetti sauce (a TED Talk)
Malcolm Gladwell on spaghetti sauce – Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell gets inside the food industry’s pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce – and makes a larger argument about the nature of choice and happiness. Detective of fads and emerging subcultures, chronicler of jobs-you-never-knew-existed, Malcolm Gladwell’s work is toppling the popular understanding of bias, crime, food, marketing, race, consumers and intelligence.
From fight/flight/freeze to “sinking open”
Our Aikido training has us looking at how to let go, breathe and “sink open” as soon as we notice that our fight/flight/freeze response has been triggered.
There are two key dynamics here. The first is noticing our reaction in the midst of that reaction. The second is being willing to open up – let go of the reaction, breathing helps a lot, and do what Chris calls “sink open.” It’s about tapping in to our larger awareness, expanding our sense of self, and looking for the option the does the least harm and best supports harmony.
I (Cindy) am noticing that this has benefits for me personally and professionally – as well as for my clients – as we look at honing our leadership capabilities, especially in this VUCA world where our fight/flight/freeze responses are even more likely to get triggered. Here’s to sinking open sooner:)
Getting clear about what we are leading
In the midst of uncertainty and our VUCA world, there are some traditional ways of leaders that we could do well to re-evaluate. One of the places to start is by getting clear about what we are leading, which will hopefully lead to an exploration of what it means to lead, to be a leader, especially now. Here are a couple of questions to start with:
- Are we the one with the answer and we’re leading the team in solving the problem our way – or are we leading the team in solving the problem their way?
- Should we be the one with the answer – or is our role to encourage and support others who have the answer?
- Is it really about the answer – or is it about the next best step, knowing it will probably change but deciding to move forward anyway?
5 Principles for Engaging VUCA
As food for thought, here are 5 principles that will enhance your leadership capacity for engaging VUCA and leading in the midst of uncertainty. We’ll explore them in more detail going forward.
- Embrace the benefits of not knowing
- Make friends with ambiguity
- Find security in being ready, instead of being sure
- Know that the signals you miss could sink you
- VUCA will throw you off center – learn to notice sooner and re-center more quickly
5 Principles for Navigating Change
As food for thought, here are 5 principles that will enhance your leadership capacity for navigating change in the midst of uncertainty. We’ll explore them in more detail going forward.
- Prepare for the unexpected
- Plan for the expected, knowing it will change
- Be clear about why, flexible about how
- Practice safe-fail, since fail-safe is no longer an option
- Measure what you must monitor what you can
