The Cochin Chamber of Commerce & Industry along with Transformavens Training and Consulting conducted an online program titled “Leading in the VUCA World – The Military Paradigm of Navigating a VUCA Environment”. The Programme examined attributes of VUCA enabled and ready Entities, Teams and Leaders and explored some of the methods and techniques used in the military to create VUCA enabled and ready Entities, Teams and Leaders. It enunciated specific instances of how military leaders react to VUCA situations and the choices that they make.

VUCA stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. It is an environment; business or otherwise, where circumstances and situations evolve by the minute. Today as the world is coming to terms with dealing with a global pandemic and a new emerging normal, every organisation and its leadership is challenged. The increase in volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity creates not only disruptions but also opportunities. It means that Businesses must seek new orientations and take a fresh approach to management. Only then can one guarantee positive results in changed circumstances of a post pandemic world.

In a VUCA world, the most important thing is to anticipate the future and to strengthen cooperation with innovative solutions. To successfully navigate the VUCA environment one has to be VUCA enabled and ready.

The willingness to engage in genuine cooperation and take on clear responsibilities is a basic prerequisite for VUCA enabled and ready entities. This is something that is ingrained in the basic fibre of the military worldwide. The skills and talents required to survive and thrive in a conflict zone are basically the same that managers could deploy in their office and business environment. This requires freedom, creativity, speed, flexibility and a culture that connects people with the organisation.