It was 45 years ago today, 30 March 1979, that I was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant (Infantry) in the United States Army… while still a “Knob” at The Citadel. A “Knob” as a Junior… and an Army 2nd Lieutenant… at The Citadel. Yep… sounds crazy and it was. I was to walk along a path that no others had walked (and one that others had never observed)… and each day I was reminded why.
As Kid President says so eloquently:
A poem, “two roads diverged in the woods… and I took the road less traveled…” And it hurt, man! Really bad! Rocks! Thorns! and Glass! my pants broke! waahh! Not cool, Robert Frost! But what if there really were two paths? I want to be in the one that leads to awesome.
I’m forever grateful to James & Merle Carroll (from Ozark, Alabama) and Colonel (Ret.) John K. Gibler and Major Doug Rich in particular for their extraordinary leadership. My situation was extremely unique, requiring numerous exceptions and a healthy dose of creativity.
Colonel (Ret.) Gibler and the Army ROTC Cadre at The Citadel modeled what it is really like to take care of your Soldiers… and I’ll never forget that. Airborne, All the Way, Sir!
Well… I was on the road that led to AWESOME.
It was a unique and extraordinary journey that provided me with an equally unique and extraordinary perspective on life. What an incredible honor and privilege to serve… and the journey continues.
And you know what… I am still on the road that leads to AWESOME.
In the next three posts, I’d like to introduce what I’ve identified as the “3 Greatest Barriers to Partnership”. Each of these three barriers also applies to learning and communication… which are fundamental building blocks for individual stability, stable partnerships, and stability at the community level. Addressing stability at these three levels is a core principle of LEAD FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION®.
#3 Ambiguity: Paradox or Hypocrisy?
We face ambiguity often… so often, I propose, that it is a natural condition–not a problem or challenge. After all, how do we know we know the whole truth? We know what we know… from our viewing angle and perspective. But let’s face it, we live in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world where ambiguity is a natural condition. Being able to navigate in the face of ambiguity is a vital skill.
The story of the Blind Men and the Elephant illustrates how ambiguity is so prevalent… and gives us insight into the need to communicate, continuously gather information and knowledge, respect others’ perspectives, collaborate, and promote transparency.
If we accept that chaos is the “new normal” and that “VUCA” (Volatility–Uncertainty–Complexity–Ambiguity) is a reasonable framework to recognize the nature of the conditions that we operate in, then that begs a question: “How can we best operate in this VUCA environment?” I believe that EMBRACE THE WOBBLE™ will unfold as an extraordinary solution to a stable and balanced life.
INDIVIDUAL STABILITY
Simply put, I believe INDIVIDUAL STABILITY is the most fundamental and essential requirement in life. Other people can tell you about it, demonstrate it, and even try to teach you with tips, tricks, and shortcuts. But I believe it’s an inside-out process that’s best attained through Self-Development (the first phase of LEAD FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION®).
In order to be highly effective… in fact, EXTRAORDINARY, we must seek to master INDIVIDUAL STABILITY. Yes, it’s a lifelong journey. But, like learning to fly a helicopter, your first major task is to HOVER… to firmly establish yourself on the path to master INDIVIDUAL (aircraft) STABILITY.
If we accept that chaos is the “new normal” and that “VUCA” is a reasonable framework to recognize the nature of the conditions that we operate in, then that begs a question: “How can we best operate in this environment?” How can we flourish in a VUCA world? Some suggest that the best response to VUCA is VUCA PRIME (first introduced by Bob Johansen, a distinguished fellow at the Institute for the Future). It is a method to counter each of the elements of VUCA with a specific counterpart.
Consider this unique approach.
Every organization must be prepared to abandon everything it does to survive in the future.”Peter Drucker
We are constantly reminded just how fast-paced life is… and that the rapidity of life and change will only increase. Additionally, that chaos is the “new normal.” Does a simple framework to recognize the nature of the conditions that we operate in exist? Can it help us better cope with, or even thrive in, these conditions. Well, the one that I use is “VUCA”.
VUCA is an acronym used to describe or reflect on the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of general conditions in the world… the chaotic “new normal.” Common usage of the term VUCA began in the 1990s in military strategic planning and has been subsequently used in a wide range of situations.
I want to provide you with a basic framework to help you refocus and achieve extraordinary daily results. I call this framework: “The Top 4 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Day to LEAD FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION®”. The world is calling out for your genius, but the noise and clutter of your world may deafen that call.
Try answering these four questions every day for just one week and see what a difference it will make… and let us know what kind of results and insights you have below.
Four Questions
The four key questions you should ask yourself every day to Lead From Your Current Position® are:
What is my primary responsibility as a Leader?
What is the ONE thing I should create, cultivate, and encourage in my environment?
What is the ONE thing I should eliminate in my environment?
Are there additional questions that would give me insight into how I can lead from my current position?
Sign up for the FREE “Leader’s Guide” on my homepage if you haven’t already done so.
You must be logged in to post a comment.