Finding Clarity through the Fog: Thriving in the VUCA Era of Meetings and Events
Contributed by Nolan Nichols
It was only recently, actually while I was at IMEX, that I heard the term ‘VUCA’ for the first time.
This acronym, originating from two university professors in a 1985 book, stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. The U.S. Army adopted it in the 1990’s to describe the state of the world following the Cold War, but it still rings true in our world and in the meetings & events industry today.
As technology continues to advance, the value of face-to-face connection will continue to be more important than ever. And that’s why the meetings & events industry isn’t just staying relevant in our world today, it’s rising to new heights.
But even so, the future can often feel foggy at times; but clarity doesn’t necessarily come from predicting what’s ahead but by focusing what’s right in front of us. Here are three guiding principles that help me and the organizations I work with to navigate change with more purpose, joy and resilience.
FIND JOY IN THE JOURNEY
Many of us have goals, metrics, milestones or net promotor scores that we’re chasing, but if we save all of that joy for the finish line, we miss the best part of the race. Joy isn’t an output, joy is an input. We don’t do great work before we have joy. We start with joy first and then that propels us to do great work. Maybe that looks like starting each day with a short walk, joining a pickleball team, or ice-cream Fridays with your kids. Experiment until you discover what brings you joy, and then go build more of that into your journey.
ASK YOURSELF: What brings you joy, and how can you intentionally schedule more of that in each day or week?
KEEP YOUR MIND SHARP
President Abraham Lincoln once said, “If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first four sharpening the axe.” If I’m honest with myself, if I was given this task, I’d probably spend all six hours immediately chopping away. The meetings & events industry can be fast-paced & relenting, and it requires all of us to be super productive. But being productive isn’t just about doing more, but staying sharp so that we aren’t chopping away with dull axes. Sometimes the best way to move faster is to press pause, whether it’s journaling, meditating, building in some self-care & recovery time, and sharpening your mental edge to ensure that when the next unforeseen client request hits, you’re sharpened & ready.
ASK YOURSELF: What daily practice helps you slow down, recharge, and stay mentally sharp?
INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS
The longest-running study ever on human health & happiness, conducted by Harvard University, found that strong relationships are the greatest predictor of a long and fulfilling life. Yet, investing in relationships are often the first thing we neglect when things get busy.
Life is funny that way: we spend much of our time trying to make money, but there’s no amount of money that can buy time. Relationships offer the best return on investment both in our personal and professional lives, whether that’s with our spouse, family, friends, faith community, colleagues or the local rec league team.
And in the meetings and events industry, we’re literally in the relationships business. But even with that being the case, it’s easy for us to take connection for granted.
ASK YOURSELF: How can you intentionally invest and double-down on relationships in the year ahead?
When we focus on building joy, staying sharp, and prioritizing relationships, we create better meetings, stronger teams, and more meaningful moments both for us and for our attendees. The fogginess of the future may never fully lift, but we can keep moving forward with clarity, connection and joy for the journey ahead, even in a VUCA world.
Nolan Nichols is a Fortune 500 keynote speaker, storytelling strategist, and founder of A Million Dreams, helping leaders and teams develop practical skills to thrive in a world of disruption through the power of story. Learn more at amilliondreams.info.
