Leadership Tangles

VUCA Revisited Again –Volatility Rouses Fear

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Fri, Oct 09, 2015

I first wrote this post in early 2011, just after I began teaching in the MBA program at Golden Gate University as an adjunct professor. Since then, I have become a full time graduate level professor and still maintain my practice as an executive leadership consultant and coach. This continues to force me to stay current with leadership research and weave that research into a pragmatic solution for clients and business school students.

Topics: VUCA

VUCA Revisited –Volatility Rouses Fear

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Fri, Feb 18, 2011

I recently began teaching in the MBA program at Golden Gate University. Being a full time executive leadership consultant and part-time professor forces me to stay current with leadership research and weave that research into a pragmatic solution for clients and business school students.

Topics: executive coaching VUCA leadership development Fear

Shaun White, Olympic Gold Medalist, and VUCA Leadership

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Fri, Feb 26, 2010

One of my guilty pleasures is watching Oprah. I don't watch it live so when I do have a few free moments, I turn on the digital video recorder and catch up. Last week, on February 19, Oprah had Shaun White, the Olympic Gold medalist on as one of her guests. He flew overnight from Vancouver to Chicago to be on her show. I have to admit that I hadn't been following Shaun White, his career, or his sport--snowboarding. I did catch his medal winning half pipe performance and his exuberant reaction to winning gold. When he spoke to Oprah about what it takes to pull of such a daring performance, my ears perked up. There is a relationship to VUCA and tangles I thought!

Topics: commitment VUCA leadership

Last Minute Holiday Shopping? Give the Development Gift Pack

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Wed, Dec 23, 2009

I have agreed to be a sponsor to Lominger, a division of Korn Ferry International? Why did I agree to do this? I was trained in all of the Lominger products in 1998. Since then, I have been using them as a regular part of my organizational consulting and executive coaching practice. I like these tools because they are smart, research based, and provide leaders with actionable feedback and a variety of developmental remedies.

Topics: Lominger VUCA

Invest in Developing Leaders Who Must Lead in Turbulent Times

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Wed, Dec 09, 2009

This morning, I was browsing the Wall Street Journal online, looking for some good news. I came upon two articles byDana Mattioli. Her first article, "Despite Cutbacks, Firms Invest in Developing Leaders," brought a smile to my face. Apparently, many firms realize that they need to continue developing their leaders if they are to thrive during these turbulent times.

Topics: VUCA leadership development collaboration

Today’s Leaders Must Up their Game

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Sat, Dec 05, 2009

We are living in tumultuous times. Today's business leaders need to be more discerning in gathering and processing business and environmental data. They need to be more accurate in setting strategy, and more effective in leading the execution of that strategy. Additionally, leaders must work harder to focus employees on being productive, while at the same time helping them make sense of the current reality and direction. Finally, today's leaders need to be masterful in both nurturing top talent and motivating the workforce, particularly if they have had to reduce headcount. In a word, leaders must up their game. Are you up for the task?

Topics: VUCA leadership team

Night of the Living Dead, VUCA, and Strangling Tangles

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Mon, Nov 09, 2009

This past Halloween, my husband and I locked ourselves in our darkened home, and watched a dvd of Night of the Living Dead. I had never seen it before and to be honest, I can’t say that I truly watched the whole thing. I spent part of the movie hidden under a blanket! If you haven’t seen it before, it contains some very gruesome scenes. However, as your intrepid Tangle Doctor, I couldn’t help see applications for saving corporate America form their own nights of the living dead.

Topics: crisis strangling tangles VUCA

Three Ways to Thrive In Volatile Times?

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Thu, Feb 05, 2009

My corporate clients are in a panic. Their business reality, as they knew it before mid September 2008, has shifted. Companies with strong cash reserves are holding back on spending. Companies without strong cash reserves are shedding employees and cutting capital expenditures. The rules of the game have changed. Yet, we all know that some firms will not only survive, but thrive during these shifting times. What will make the difference?

Topics: VUCA Fear sensemaking Improvisation

Five Tips for Leading Through VUCA

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Tue, Dec 02, 2008

It's official. The United States is in a recession, and has been for a year, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. And for many I have spoken to, this recession feels very different from past ones. I believe that the difference is the level of VUCA, or volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Regular readers of my blog know that I have posted a number of blogs on the topic. Simply put, VUCA is like an E ticket ride at Disneyland , in dense fog, with a stuck stop/start gear.

Topics: VUCA Fear leadership courage

Leadership Communication Tips in VUCA

By Marcia Ruben, PhD, PCC on Mon, Dec 01, 2008

Several years ago, I was on a cross-country flight. The pilot came on and told us that we were going to encounter some turbulence. He explained that we were going through a patch of rough air that was akin to being on top of pot of boiling water. He went on to say that he and the copilot were committed to finding calmer air space. As I recall, he explained that the bumpiness would last about 15 minutes. During that time, we could expect the ride to be quite bumpy. Having a clear picture of what was happening, why, and how long it would last certainly helped relieve the collective passenger anxiety.

Topics: VUCA Fear leadership communication

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