Course Overview

“Whereas the heroic manager of the past knew all, could do all and could solve every problem, the post-heroic manager asks how every problem can be solved in a way that develops other people´s capacity to handle it.” – Charles Handy (economic and social philosopher)

VUCA is a trendy managerial acronym short for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. It originated from leadership scholars Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus and was popularised mainly by the US military after the Cold War.

Leading employees in a VUCA environment requires a different kind of mindset and skills than what was practised in earlier times. Leaders now need to move beyond business-as-usual and find ways to thrive in the complex and uncertain environment in which we live and work.

In this course, you will learn new and dynamic principles of navigating through the VUCA world we now live in.  You will also learn how to change Volatility to Vision, Uncertainty to Understanding, Complexity to Clarity and Ambiguity to Agility.

Why is it necessary to undergo this “VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) Leadership Training”?

A VUCA environment can destabilise the best of people and make them anxious, impact their motivation, increase the chances of people making ‘bad’ decisions, jeopardise long-term projects, and overwhelm individuals and organisations on the whole. Therefore, one has to reconsider the way a business is operated in constantly evolving environments.

This Zoe training course will empower you with the experience to help you apply innovative approaches to respond to a VUCA world.

Course Objectives

Upon completing this VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) Leadership Training course successfully, participants will be able to:

• Recognise destructive uncertainty in your organisation and turn it into clear understanding
• Overcome volatility in the business and turn this into positive vision
• Understand the key components of VUCA leadership
• Govern and lead complexity in the organisation towards ensuring clarity for your people
• How to identify ambiguity in the business and transform this into agility
• The key principles and process to lead people and organisations through VUCA

Training Methodology

This collaborative VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) Leadership Training program will comprise the following training methods:

• Lectures
• Seminars & Presentations
• Group Discussions
• Assignments
• Case Studies & Functional Exercises
• Practical Applications

ZTS follows the ‘Do-Review-Learn-Apply’ model.

Organisational Benefits

Companies who nominate their employees to participate in this VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) Leadership Training course can benefit in the following ways:

• Ensure that there is a clear understanding of VUCA leadership to eliminate misinterpretation
• Gain more motivated, confident, and proficient future leaders in the organisation
• Increase positive interpersonal behaviour and communication skills of individuals and leadership in the organisation
• Reduce workplace problems and issues through effective VUCA leadership strategies
• Increase decision making, strategy, and positive leadership across the organisation
• Develop leadership, ownership, and empowerment within the organisation

Personal Benefits

Individuals who participate in this VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) Leadership Training course can gain from it in the following ways:

• Obtain a greater understanding and application of VUCA leadership techniques
• Develop your critical leadership, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and fulfilment skills
• Learn techniques to empower people to achieve greater potential and development
• Get an increased awareness of your behavioural patterns and communication skills, and how to improve them
• Proactively develop and teach VUCA leadership to those around you
• Have a positive impression on your respective organisations and your personal leadership development

Who Should Attend?

This VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) Leadership Training course would be suitable for:

• Top-talent, high-potential candidates, and future leaders
• Senior Managers
• Middle Managers
• Senior Executives
• Directors
• General Managers
• Business Heads

Course Outline

MODULE 1: DEFINING VUCA LEADERSHIP

• Defining VUCA in the Modern World
• Understanding Leadership
• Traditional Leadership styles vs. VUCA Leadership
• Emotional Intelligence and the Self-aware VUCA Leader
• Leading through Change – The Key Principles to Manage VUCA
• Managing Expectations: Gen Y and Gen Z

MODULE 2:  From Volatility to Vision

• Defining ‘Volatility’in the VUCA Framework
• Volatility Impact in the Team and Organisation
• Providing Effective Leadership in Time of Volatility
• Building Rapport and Developing Trust
• Turning Volatility to Vision
• Leading People to the Powerful Vision

MODULE 3:  From Uncertainty to Understanding 

• Factors Effecting Uncertainty
• Understand Your Team and Organisation Dynamics
• Key Communication Principles to Gain Understanding
• Combat and Control Uncertainty through Coaching and Mentoring
• Leading Understanding in the Workplace

MODULE 4: From Complexity to Clarity

• Why Is It So Complex?
• Check and Clarify – The Road to Clarity
• Using the RACI Matrix to Define Roles and Responsibilities
• Creative Thinking to Gain Clarity
• Aid Clarity through Problem Solving and Decision-making Methods
• Communicating Clarity to Your People

MODULE 5:  From Ambiguity to Agility

• Defining Ambiguity vs. Agility in VUCA
• Lead and Manage using Agile & Kaizen
• Developing an Agile Team: Empowerment
• Building Organisation Agility: The Agile Leader
• Become an Agile VUCA Leader
• Lead an Agile Organisation

MODULE 6: FUTURE ASPECTS OF VUCA

• Why Is Traditional Leadership Not Effective Anymore?
• The Importance of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
• Who is a Self-Aware VUCA Leader?
• How to Evolve into a VUCA Leader
• How to Effectively Lead through Change
• Develop Strong & Powerful Leadership Vision
• Key Influence and Persuasion Skills
• Rapid Effective Decision Making

MODULE 7: BENEFITS OF LEADERSHIP A VUCA WORLD

• Acceptance of Reality
• Reduce Vulnerability
• Empowerment Towards Management of Unpredictable Forces
• Implementation of Strategic VUCA-Management Strategies
• Decision Making
• Innovation and Creativity to Combat VUCA
• Searching for Opportunities in the Midst of VUCA
• Team Building and Organisational Culture
• Changing the Recruitment Paradigm to Align With VUCA
• Change Management

MODULE 8: VUCA TRANSFORMATION

• Forecasting vs. Reacting to VUCA Situations
• Using Data Analytics to Transform VUCA Leadership
• Use VUCA to Your Advantage
• Organisation Compass

MODULE 9: LEADERSHIP TRAITS FOR THE FUTURE

• Maker-instinct
• Clarity and Simplicity
• Dilemma-flipping
• Immersive Learning Ability
• Bio-empathy
• Constructive Depolarising
• Quiet Transparency
• Rapid Prototyping
• Smart Mob Organising
• Commons Creating
• Synchronicity