Arete Volume One Fall 2022

Αρετή (Arete) Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership | Vol. 1 No. 1 | 2022

The Intersection of Resilience and Global Leadership in a VUCA World

Karen Dyer Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, Indiana, United States

Abstract Background: During times of significant upheaval, global leaders rely on the ability to persevere through adversity. Perseverance, or resilience factor, is most significant within the context of leadership during times volatility, complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity (VUCA) in the world. VUCA occurrences such as the COVID-19 pandemic create an unchartered territory for exploration, opening pathways for timely and significant research. The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to a global disruption during which a novel intersection of global leadership and resilience occurred. This intersection offers researchers an opportunity to explore the construct of resilience within the context of the VUCA world as it impacts global leaders. Objectives: Understanding the relationship between leaders and resilience during disruptive times will increase the body of understanding of the construct of global leadership resilience, providing insight into the depth of competencies and potential new applications. Approach: Disruption Theory and Change Theory offer a foundation for exploring global leadership resilience. Results: The author offers a new model for examining the interconnectedness between the constructs of global leadership, resilience, and the VUCA world, a framework illustration that links the constructs. Conclusions: The literature about global leadership resilience in the VUCA world has left a wide berth for additional research into these constructs and room for potential new applications by global leaders seeking to employ an adaptive global mindset. Keywords: global leadership, resilience, VUCA world, COVID-19 pandemic, Disruption Theory, Change Theory , Lewin’s CATS Model

Paper type: Critical Essay & Perspective

Citation: Dyer, K. (2022). The Intersection of Resilience and Global Leadership in a VUCA World. Αρετή (Arete) Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership , Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 36-45.

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