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The Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity we face as a world just keeps escalating. If the Global Pandemic, vast political polarization, and race-based violence here in the U.S. was not enough, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken VUCA to a new level.

The Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity keeps escalating. If the Global Pandemic, political polarization, and race-based violence was not enough, the Russian invasion of Ukraine took VUCA to a new level. Click To Tweet

Over the last three years, people around the world continue to endure the ravishes of the pandemic (with a new subvariant of Omicron spreading in China) and the loss of millions of people to the disease. Each of these people, many taken before they could reach maturity, left loved ones to grieve their untimely passing. Some who survived have been left with long-term lingering health effects. Healthcare workers continue to find themselves in unthinkable situations in trying to care for COVID and other patients in overcrowded conditions – while also trying to care for themselves.

And then there is the ongoing VUCA economy. The Pandemic left many people unemployed and, at the same time, millions of jobs unfilled. Now we are facing high inflation rates not seen in 40 years. Since the invasion of Ukraine, gas prices have risen as much as 50%. All of this has happened within a matter of weeks.

In the midst of all of this, there has been an escalation of race- and gender-based violence against Black, Asian, Jewish, and transgender people. Africans in Ukraine have encountered racism while attempting to leave the country. Reports that Black people were either denied or granted delayed passage prompted the Urban League and the NAACP to call for fair and humane treatment. 

For DEIJ practitioners, by the very nature of the work, we are often closer to, if not steeped in, many heavy current events. The increasing resistance to anti-racism work as more time passes since George Floyd’s murder takes its toll. 

For DEIJ practitioners, we are often closer to, if not steeped in, many heavy current events. The increasing resistance to anti-racism work as more time passes since George Floyd’s murder takes its toll. Click To Tweet

At The Winters Group internal meeting this week, we held an open forum to discuss how VUCA is impacting the team. There were some heartfelt emotions centering around the stress of navigating serious personal health and family issues while attending to our DEIJ work that more often than not carries significant emotional labor. One team member asked, “How do I talk with my child about what is happening in the world? How do I make him feel safe?”

As we experience and/or witness the compounding impact of VUCA, it can have devastating consequences on our mental health and physical health. I suspect that we will not even know the total impact of these events for years. The isolation caused by the pandemic, the fear inspired by racial violence, economic uncertainty, and war are just too much even for the seemingly “well-adjusted.”

The impact of VUCA can have devastating consequences on our mental health. The isolation of the pandemic, the fear of racial violence, economic uncertainty, and war are too much even for the seemingly 'well-adjusted.' Click To Tweet

We need to take our mental well-being seriously. Those who follow The Winters Group know that we write about prioritizing our well-being fairly often. With this new level of VUCA, it is ever more important. The team discussed some coping strategies that I offer here. 

  1. Make space on a regular basis to check in with your teams. It is cathartic just to have a safe environment to share. We have embedded into our weekly check-in process the sharing of a work high and a personal high for the week. It was suggested that we add the opportunity to share a “low” for the week as well. 
     
  2. Often people get recognized for going “the extra mile,” performing “above and beyond” expectations. We should include in our definitions of exceptional performance taking time off to attend to one’s well-being. Praise team members for recognizing when they need to disconnect from work to rest and care for their mental health.

    We should include in our definitions of exceptional performance taking time off to attend to one’s well-being. Praise team members for recognizing when they need to disconnect from work to rest and care for their mental health. Click To Tweet
     
  3. If you are a leader, track how much time team members are taking off. If you notice that anyone has not taken time off in a while, require them to do so. As a baby boomer, I remember when leaders proudly proclaimed that they had not taken a vacation in five years. It was considered a mark of strength, especially for male leaders in the U.S. The consequences of this mentality continue to impact employees today.

    If you are a leader, track how much time team members are taking off. If you notice that anyone has not taken time off in a while, require them to do so. Click To Tweet
     
  4. A common recommendation today is to unplug from social media and triggering news reports. This continues to be good advice, and I would add to it, if you are going to engage with media, find things that make you laugh. I have a good friend who is going through some tough health challenges for both herself and her husband. She watches reruns of comedies such as Golden Girls.  

    A common recommendation today is to unplug from social media and triggering news reports. This continues to be good advice, and I would add to it, if you are going to engage with media, find things that make you laugh. Click To Tweet
     
  5. Let your manager and co-workers know what you need and how they can support you. Talk about how you can support each other. Seek outside professional help. 
     
  6. We discussed how to set realistic boundaries with our clients in a VUCA world. Clients may come with a sense of urgency to “get something done,” perhaps because they are feeling behind in their DEIJ efforts, and they want to show they are doing something. We are working on finding ways to support such clients in taking a longer, more holistic approach that includes slowing down to achieve goals that make a real, sustainable difference. We will make some difficult decisions to decline work with clients who do not share our value of prioritizing well-being.
Clients may come with urgency to 'get something done,' perhaps feeling behind in their DEIJ efforts. We make difficult decisions to decline work with clients who do not share our value of prioritizing well-being. Click To Tweet

We are living in extremely trying times that call for radically different approaches to stay whole and healthy. Please take care of yourself. You matter. 

 

One of The Winters Group’s Values: 

Fostering Peace and Well-Being: We see our work as a calling. We strive to promote peace in the world through inclusion, while also prioritizing self-care and well-being.