CYP Now - The attributes to apply in times of chaos

It's paradoxical that one of the certainties of leadership is that others expect leaders to provide certainty, clarity and a way forward while the reality of the environment they are leading in is “VUCA” – volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.

Jo Davison is associate at the Staff College

It's a tricky ask, doubly so when the political and economic environment becomes ever more chaotic, as it currently feels.

What helps leaders lead during chaotic times, and stay balanced themselves? In a very helpful 10-minute TED Business talk, Professor Amy Edmondson of Harvard Business School sets out four particular attributes of successful leaders.

What resonates with me about these four is that while some sound counter-intuitive, they have all been in the mix at times when I've experienced brilliant leadership.

Prof Edmondson mentions leadership during the pandemic and I think that spending some time reflecting on the leadership that was being displayed during that time – for better or worse – is a timely exercise to do now to inform leadership for these tricky times.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included