Pick up any paper. Listen to any news. What’s the common thread that weaves through all news?
VUCA – Volatility, Uncertain, Complexity, Ambiguity
It’s the scary. It’s the unknown. It’s the unknowable.
Today’s new normal is VUCA. That’s why we say: “We now live in VUCA time”
Today’s Typical NY Times Front Page Headlines (August 30, 2017)
- Stalled Over the Gulf: Storm Deepens Texans’ Soggy Misery
- Scope of Disaster is Obscured by Record Rain
- A Mexican Scion Takes on Graft and Is Targeted
- An Uneasy Time for Immigrants and Then the Rain Began to Fall
- Plying the Urban Sea, Armed with a Boat and Raw Courage
- Pacifist Japan Opens Its Arms To Its Military
- They Don’t Ride Subways, But Subways’ Future Rides With Them
The Risk Lens
As you can see, almost 3/4s of the articles are seen through the risk lens. This lens is dark. Negative. Foreboding. Dystopian.
And frankly, I don’t like it.
But it is what it is. The new normal of VUCA time.
If you’re in doubt, look at any TV news programs. It’s the same dark lens or filter of looking through life.
Implications
There are number of implication of VUCA time:
- Folks are angry. You can feel it. You can see it. It’s in the air all the time.
- Polarities arise over everything: politics, money, have/have nots, immigration, Trump etc.
- Folks can’t agree to come together or even agree to disagree.
- Perceived or real injustices are magnified.
- Problems are magnified and often seem beyond reach.
- Problem solving and decision making are slow, impossible, or unilateral.
- Public institutions are asunder.
- Families are separate.
Solutions to Think Consider
Stay positive. I know it’s hard. But, what is your sanity worth?
Take a step back. Don’t take hard positions. Things will change tomorrow.
Don’t get pulled into energy sucking debates.
Have your favorite beverage – relax – smile.
It’s not the end of the world.
Yet …
Bio:
Greg Hutchins PE and CERM (503.233.101 & GregH@QualityPlusEngineering.com) is the founder of:
CERMAcademy.com
800Compete.com
QualityPlusEngineering.com
WorkingIt.com
He is the evangelist behind Future of Quality: Risk®. He is currently working on the Future of Work and machine learning projects.
He is a frequent speaker and expert on Supply Chain Risk Management and cyber security. His current books available on all platform are shown below:
