The importance of grounding yourself in a world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguousness (VUCA)

‘Flying starts from the ground.  The more grounded you are, the higher you fly’

JR Rim

‘Change is inevitable’ to help us all ‘navigate these unchartered waters’ during these ‘unsettling times’ where we try and reach a ‘new normal’.  Enough with the eyerolls at yet more seemingly glib self-help spiritual phrases from yours truly.  I know what you mean and I will confess to being a huge user of these expressions.  And yet, they are oh so true.

What we are currently experiencing is huge and so unfathomable, reminiscent of scenes in apocalyptic movies.  And as we all scramble to right ourselves, whilst trying to manage our internal and external turmoil, we are inundated with thousands of messages on how to build resilience, disrupt, pivot and generally be more agile.  Again, this is me and what I peddle professionally.  And I believe in all of it, wholeheartedly.  However, as I talk to clients and friends & family, what is obvious, is that one cannot move forwards confidently and sustainably without feeling & being grounded first.  This is true for you as an individual at home and professionally, if you are a leader, as well as for organisations as a whole.

For those who need more convincing – think about when you’re exercising.  Every teacher and trainer will nag us about the importance of one’s core.  How it enhances balance and stability.  How without it, we would suffer more frequently from injuries, be unable to move freely on even the simplest of acts, let alone during sporting activity.  The concept is the same for us mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

What does it look like when you’re floundering?

·      When you are feeling generally unsettled, agitated and uneasy

·      You react more quickly and often to people and situations that you normally would not

·      Lack of focus and concentration

·      You’re running on nervous energy, extra touchy and on high-alert

·      You have problems communicating

·      You’re more impulsive and compulsive such as hoarding or inviting obsessive behaviours

In short, if you were to imagine this acted out, it would be like watching someone blindfolded, directionless and hurtling & spinning around, bumping into things and possibly causing some damage to themselves and the people in their way.  Imagine if this is you right now.  Imagine if you are the leader of a team and/or of a business.  Imagine if this is what your organisation looks like to your clients and other stakeholders?

Imagine making important decisions at such a crucial time, whilst displaying all those signs of being untethered.  Can you actually be effective in anyway?  Will you be able to disrupt?  Be agile?  Pivot?  Lead with courage?  Can you think clearly and remain focused?  Will whatever you choose to do be strategic and sustainable?

The objective is to help you get to a place where you are in complete control of your psychological and emotional self, not easily overwhelmed nor freely swayed by people and situations that don’t make sense to you. 

What can you do to ground yourself?

There are all sorts of things that one can practise and do to help ground themselves, to bring things back to basics and to what feels natural and like ‘home’.  Here are some ideas:

·      Practise mindfulness be it through breathing exercises or walking meditations or body scans etc.

·      Get outside and enjoy the fresh air and nature.  Feeling the ground beneath you as you walk or run can literally and metaphorically be grounding

·      Listen to music or if possible, play music and lose yourself in the moment

·      Tune into your other senses too – like enjoying your food (sight, smell, taste, touch and even sound)

·      Connect with loved ones through good quality and honest conversations, even if it’s via the dreaded Zoom or Houseparty, or even better if you have pets!

What can leaders do to ground themselves?

VUCA was an idea coined by students in a war college after the Cold War when the environment was packed with much constant change and unknowns.  The expression has since being used a lot within a business context and there can be no better example of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity with this current global pandemic.

·      Have a clear vision & purpose - meaningful to you and aligned with those of your organisation.  With this clarity, it will be easier to make vital decisions on behalf of your business and team and to get them on board with your mission

·      Be courageous and vulnerable.  Your colleagues will be looking to you for stewardship and at times, it will require you to dig deep.  However, if you do this whilst remaining human, compassionate and empathetic, you are more likely to succeed in your mission and in persuading others that you’re doing the right thing

·      Be adaptable – once you know what your vision, mission and purpose are, you will see what you are prepared to be flexible on and what are non-negotiables.  This will help you to manoeuvre more smoothly through choppy waters whilst not losing sight of what’s important

·      Humility – believe in yourself and your abilities, and those of your team.  However, that does not mean one should lose the vital need for continuous learning, development and collaboration.  In fact, these are more essential than ever before.  Humility within leaders is about trust and respect. 

·      Empathy more than ever is a required trait for leaders.  The more leaders are able to understand what it’s like to stand in others’ shoes and to support them, the better it is for those colleagues and for the business when it comes to strategy, decision-making and execution.  Incidentally, this lockdown has also shown how important empathy for customers and their needs are too.

These are not easy times and we are all being asked to do things that make us uncomfortable and change habits and behaviours that have become so ingrained in our lifestyles.  Whilst for many, making these changes isn’t easy, reminding ourselves of what we stand for and why, and how to remain grounded, will help us go a long way to making those much needed adaptations to our ‘new normal’ – be it for ourselves, our colleagues or our business.

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