The
adverse and abnormal VUCA(Volatility,Uncertaininty,Complexity and Ambiguity)
reality is an obvious phenomenon in the corporate world but it is followed by
period of exponential growth. Neither the VUCA times nor the following period
of exponential market growth that heralds the new paradigm, follow or observe
any known patterns of behaviours, systems or leadership. It seeks different and
new style in leadership.
The
idea that marginal enhancements in the style and efficiency of leadership will
not be able to sustain itself in the new paradigm. It calls for what thinkers
call –Provocateur Leadership.
Darwins
law of survival of the fittest has been engraved in our hard wired minds.It
also opens up to the theory of following the classical path as opposed to
create your own path.When you require someone to do something because of
prescribed rules - what you do is labelled as classical. When you however
expect to move your consciousness as well as that of others to take initiatives
in the zone of leadership to manage the new and the unprecedented reality, what
you get as a result of that is provocateur in Leadership !!!
Classical
leaders either transform themselves into Provocateur Leaders or they slip
down into the obscurity and silence of the graveyard of their careers.
For
a classical leader to transition and lead in the post turbulance times,
requires the Provocateur Leader to be guided by four guiding norms...its called
Provocateurship.
- Provocateurs
Intention
- Provocateurs
Awareness
- Provocateurs
FDI
- Provocateurs
Create Provocateurs
Provocateurship begins with conscious Intention which represents the innermost core of the leaders
purpose, values, desires and motivation. Collectively, this garners the energy
required to manage any change effort. Rightly said Charles de Gaulle ..."nothing
great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they
are determined to be so !". It
represents desire of the leader to enter the arena of vulnerabilities and risk
in new times and inspire others to follow him to action. Remember
MALIA...? Most Aspirational Leaders Inspire Action. Provocateur leaders
have that intention to lead and inspire action.
Provocateurs Awareness. Provocateur Paradigm operates on an assumption that awareness
illuminates and thus creates reality. People tend to gravitate towards what
they tend to focus on. Provocateur Leaders channelise their awareness to what
is relevant, fully in the direction of the problems and possibilities in the
new paradigm.
Provocateurs FDI. Provocateur Leaders have the distinct ability to focus
and read the dynamic environment, evaluate the list of alternatives and
thereafter discriminate between options available in the unchartered reality to
chalk-out a path that what will be new, innovative and would make a cutting
edge difference in the new paradigm.Provocateurs have a knack of getting
insights using these discriminations finding out of box solutions. This is
called the FDI(focus,dissectionand Insight)model.Thus Design Thinking naturally
become the aspirational tool and method of the Provocateur leaders.
Provocateurs Create Provocateurs. Provocateur leaders are action heroes of new times.
They quickly exhort the phantom of old action and act as catatlyst to their
teams to form innovative patterns for new action. They inspire their teams to
focus on Solutions rather than discussing Problems. Provocateur leaders are
captains mandated to navigate their Ships through turbulent seas to new safe
shores. They create leaders who inspire the same and creates a never ending
chain of provocateurs .Whilst having a correct navigating plan is very
necessary to reach safe shores, it has no value if subsequently discovered on a
sunk ship ! Provocateur leaders inspire collective leadership rather than individual
heroism.
Provocateur
Leaders are ordinary men who have the inner zeal to look at the default future
differently and chalk their way out to new shores.
