"Chaos is a Gift:
Leading Oneself in Times of Uncertain and Complex Environments"
In the past, organization leaders controlled the rate of change and rested on certainty and predictability in creating strategic plans and courses of action with specific outcomes. Frequently within organizations, strategic planning documents are composed of defined operations, actions, and activities by strategic leaders, day-to-day managed by organizational (director) leaders, and executed by tactical (front-line) leaders. However, rapid technological changes have transformed the business and political environment resulting in chaos, unpredictability, uncertainty, and unmanageable situations for today's leaders to navigate. Leading change in an unpredictable, chaotic, and complex environment is one of the most complicated leadership challenges at the strategic and organizational levels of our time. For that reason, leaders need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable in making decisions as information rapidly changes. Even worse, emerging leaders are not adequately prepared nor developed with the skills needed to address the most urgent issues in a complex and uncertain environment. Leading oneself with character is the cornerstone that guides one's choices and actions in times of uncertainty. Developing the capacity to lead oneself in times of organizational chaos and unpredictability is a critical ingredient in solving organizational challenges.
Prof. Jacobus Kok,
Co-Director RCEC, Leuven and Contributing Editor of “Leading in a VUCA World” (Springer)
“After reading this book, I’m convinced leaders are called in a
VUCA time like ours, to lead themselves and others by finding vision where others only see volatility, to find clarity and
courage where others only see complexity.”
Cynthia Cherrey,
President and CEO,
International Leadership Association
“Written for multiple sectors from diverse voices; this
book illuminates the importance of self-leadership in a
VUCA world.”
Prof. Hendri Kroukamp,
Dean: Faculty of Economic and Management
Sciences, University of the Free State, South Africa
“Chaos creates opportunities. Furthermore, it gives you the
opportunity to learn something about yourself and how to
exert yourself in your work environment.”
Dr. Steven van den Heuvel,
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the ETF, Belgium
“Chaos is a Gift? could hardly be a more timely publication. The contributors consider the question: How should we comport ourselves in VUCA times? The answers they give are both wise and important.”
Dr. R. Ray Klapwyk,
Educational Consultant
Instructor in Educational Leadership at Trinity Western University, Canada
“Yes! Chaos is a gift, inviting and challenging every leader to dig deep for spiritual renewal and to collaborate with others for the betterment of our world. I highly recommend this book!”