VUCA times : how to survive when everything’s falling apart
Ah, work nowadays… Forget the good old office with its neatly aligned chairs, the photocopier humming like a tractor, and those little coffee breaks where the biggest worry was whether Martine would bring her famous fruitcake. Now, we live in a VUCA world, and it’s high time to tackle the question: how do we deal with these upheavals, especially with the rise of AI (artificial intelligence)?
What is VUCA anyway? An acronym that spells trouble!
Everything is VUCA now. No, it’s not some obscure yoga pose or a sultry island dance, but an acronym born at the US Army War College and later adopted by business schools. It stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity—basically, the perfect recipe for your daily existential crisis.
At work, it means economic difficulties, legal and fiscal uncertainties, unclear employers… in other words, the ideal environment to start your day with a migraine before even opening your inbox.
Add to this the technological upheavals brought by AI, and the complexity skyrockets: jobs are transforming, roles evolving, and our ways of working must constantly adapt.
AI, the new player in the VUCA dance
Facing this new reality, cognitive overload is hard to avoid. Our brains, already overwhelmed by endless changes, must now juggle the arrival of AI tools.
Sure, these technologies claim to lighten our load. But beware, they also bring a wave of uncertainties fueling fears of being outdated or even replaced in the job market.
How do you navigate a world where technology evolves faster than our work methods? The temptation is to bury your head in the sand like an ostrich, hoping it will all settle down—or break down in tears. But we know that only makes things worse. So, what’s the solution?
Effectuation: a survival strategy
In these uncertain times, relying on predictive logic, based on fixed goals and plans drawn from past experiences, no longer suffices. The current environment demands flexible and adaptive strategies.
It was during a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) that I discovered effectuation. This approach encourages turning uncertainty into opportunity. In a world where AI has become the diva of new technologies, abandoning rigid plans for an agile dance is not just desirable—it’s essential to avoid ending up on the sidelines.
Here are the principles of effectuation:
- “Bird-in-Hand Principle”: Start with what you have; don’t wait for the perfect moment, launch with your available resources.
- “Affordable Loss Principle”: Before betting your last shirt, consider what you’re willing to lose rather than what you hope to gain.
- “Crazy-Quilt Principle”: Build a patchwork of partnerships; collaborate rather than spy on competitors—alliances open more doors.
- “Lemonade Principle”: Turn unexpected events and surprises into opportunities; let them lead to enriching outcomes.
- “Pilot-in-the-Plane Principle”: Focus on what you can control and let go of the rest; with some flexibility, the journey is more enjoyable.
The symbiosis between effectuation and artificial intelligence
In today’s workplace, effectuation teaches us to accept that we don’t always have control. AI might seem like a threat, but it can also be a precious ally amid all other risks and uncertainties. Indeed, it boosts productivity and, ultimately, creativity by allowing us to test ideas in real-time and adjust our strategies accordingly.
Let’s be honest: facing uncertainty demands a good dose of self-mockery and letting go.
Things might not always go as planned, but isn’t that the charm of VUCA? It’s like an improvised dance where you have to keep your balance while adapting to changing rhythms.
How to apply effectuation in your office life?
- Use available resources: No need to change the world on Monday morning! Start small projects with free AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude (for example, ask them to compile data, summarize a text, or help write an email to your boss). Unsure where to start? Try this free course: Destination AI: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
- Act with affordable losses in mind: New challenge? First, assess what you’re ready to lose before diving in. This lets you move forward without fearing failure.
- Co-create with others: Don’t isolate yourself! Ask for help. The more you co-build, the more you multiply your resources and ideas. A good chat by the coffee machine can work wonders!
- Leverage the unexpected: Life is full of surprises—and AI especially!
It sometimes hallucinates and spins tall tales. Always keep a critical eye. Instead of whining about glitches, why not turn these quirks into innovation opportunities? Every change is a chance to discover new ways of working. - Actively shape the future: Don’t let the world impose its limits on you. Imagine it as you wish and start shaping it your way. Test new tools, dare to dream… and who knows, maybe win as well!
Light in the midst of the night
In this fast-changing world, accepting that we can’t control everything is the key to moving forward serenely.
So, are you ready to embrace uncertainty with a bit of creativity and a good dose of self-irony? What if we saw life as a giant laboratory where each day brings new discoveries?
It takes courage, of course—but it’s precisely in accepting the unknown that the true magic of the human adventure lies!
