VUCA and Portfolio Executives: Part Five – Ambiguity
In a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world, we are constantly faced with ambiguity. But what does ambiguity mean for us as portfolio executives and the organisations we serve?
Tag: Portfolio Executive
VUCA and Portfolio Executives: Part Four – Complexity
The ‘C’ of VUCA is complexity. Complexity arises from multiple moving parts. The traditional approach separates each part and develops an understanding of its behaviour before addressing the whole system. But other things start to emerge in a world of complexity.
There are two elements to this: What does it mean for you? What does it mean in the context of the organisation you’re seeking to operate in?
Building Community: Part Four – Starting Community
It would be great if there were a ready-made community that you could join. However, this opportunity is not always available. So, how do you start a community?
VUCA and Portfolio Executives: Part Three – Uncertainty
In a VUCA world, we are faced with extraordinary uncertainty. If you are going to be the trusted advisor to the CEO and build the most powerful capability you can for the clients you serve, then uncertainty has to be part of your recognition of the world in which you operate.
There are two elements to this: What does it mean for you? What does it mean in the context of the organisation you’re seeking to operate in?
Building Community: Part Three – Nurturing Community
Community doesn’t just happen; it’s not the same as a network. Nurturing a community requires intentionally finding opportunities for groups to come together. Whether online, through specific social media platforms, or in person, the value of one-to-one contact cannot be overstated.
VUCA and Portfolio Executives: Part Two – Volatile
In Part One, we outlined the VUCA framework, its context, and how to respond. This article will examine what it means to be a Portfolio Executive working with smaller organisations in a volatile world.
There are two elements to this: What does it mean for you? What does it mean in the context of the organisation you’re seeking to operate in?
Building Community: Part Two – Community of Purpose
As you enter the second half of your working life, you may naturally transition from seeking success to seeking significance. In that context, finding a community of purpose can be a powerful way to build relationships with others who desire to deliver a similar purpose, creating a sense of belonging and value.
Fractional Director vs Portfolio Executive
At one level, these terms—fractional Director, Fractional Executive, Fractional Leader and Portfolio Executive—could be seen as interchangeable. Still, with the rising popularity of fractional, I am keen to preserve the term Portfolio Executive as different from a Fractional Executive.
VUCA and the Portfolio Executive: Part One – Introduction
For those who haven’t heard of VUCA, it is a military doctrine developed after the Second World War when people recognised that conventional warfare wouldn’t be the only way to respond to military threats. They realised that the world was Volatile (V), Uncertain (U), Complex (C) and Ambiguous (A).
Building Community: Part One – Community of Practice
When you step out as Portfolio Executives, you risk becoming isolated. Often, you are recommended to go out and ‘do networking’. Networking is a valuable business development activity, but I believe there is a much richer way of thinking about what we need.
The Power of a Manifesto
As I work with Portfolio Executives, there are two things that become increasingly important. One is to help them to have a distinctive point of view about the world in which they inhabit and the second thing is for them to develop a stronger sense of personal purpose about what they’re trying to do through their work. One of the very powerful ways to start to articulate this and bring it into focus, is to develop a document that I call a manifesto.
What I have learned from helping others understand their Adaptability: Environment
Within the AQai model of adaptability, Environment is a critical dimension reflecting the impact of company, team and the experience of individuals at work.
Know the Season – 1 of 2
As city dwellers, too often we lose track of the seasons. For many of us we step out of one climate-controlled environment into another, home to car/bus/underground to office to gym or home to shopping centre, restaurant or cinema. There are no seasonal foods any more with everything available anywhere anytime. We are insulated from the rich experience of spring, summer, autumn, winter.
Making Your Future Work – Get Experience as a Board Member
It is incredibly valuable as a senior professional to get experience as a board member. There are three reasons that this really can make a difference to your career.
The Capability Attitude: Build not fix
What is the ‘Capability Attitude’ and why is it about ‘Build not Fix’? For senior professionals, whether as employees, interims or consultants, they are indoctrinated with the mantra: ‘don’t just bring me problems; bring me solutions’.