Certain Uncertainty Leading with Agility and Resilience in an Unpredictable World

Improve your ability to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable world

In Certain Uncertainty, renowned management theorist Des Dearlove delivers an exciting and illuminating discussion of how to build resilience and agility into our lives and businesses. As rapid and foundational change becomes ever more constant, a state of constant disruption increasingly becomes our new normal. Certain Uncertainty collects advice and fresh thinking from accomplished business leaders to help managers and executives navigate contemporary markets.

In the book, you’ll find:

• Ways to structure your business to better respond to constant fluidity and change
• Discussions of why the concepts of economic and social certainty were always largely illusory
• Strategies for embracing forward-looking humility that acknowledges uncertainty about what lies around the next corner
• Thought-provoking insights from leading business experts including Sheree Atcheson, Ori Brafman, Rom Brafman, Paul R. Carlile, Julie Carrier, Kirstin Ferguson, Nathan Furr, Susannah Harmon Furr, Amy Gallo, Matt Gitsham, Ruth Gotian, Mehran Gul, Diane Hamilton, Maja Korica, Marianne W. Lewis, David Liddle, Terence Mauri, Jennifer Moss, Gorick Ng, David Nour, Simone T.A. Phipps, Leon C. Prieto, Ben Pring, Megan Reitz, Wendy K. Smith, Lisa Kay Solomon, Modupe Taylor-Pearce, Tamsen Webster, Ben Whitter, Andrew Winston, and Kai D. Wright

An engaging and insightful exploration of a dynamic and ambiguous world that’s increasingly full of surprises, Certain Uncertainty will earn a place on the bookshelves of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries seeking ways to adapt to a world in which sameness and certainty are relics of the past.

DES DEARLOVE is a British business journalist and management theorist known for his expertise in the evolution of management ideas and thought leadership. He is Co-founder of Thinkers50, the influential global ranking of management thinkers.

Foreword by Amy Edmondson xi

Introduction by Des Dearlove 1

I Future Thinking 5

1 Resilient, Net Positive Leadership 7
Andrew Winston

2 Leading Like a Futurist 15
Lisa Kay Solomon

3 The Privilege of Leadership: A Constant in an Uncertain World 23
Sheree Atcheson

4 Leading from the Future (Not the Past) 31
Terence Mauri

5 Toward Uncertainty Ability: Leading Self and Others to Possibility Beyond the Unknown 41
Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr

II Transformational Leadership 49

6 Leading with the Head and Heart: The Modern Leader Our World Needs Today 51
Kirstin Ferguson

7 The Nine Derailers of Strategy 59
Ben Pring

8 Radical Empathy: How to Craft Effective Communications About Change 71
Tamsen Webster

9 Leading Sustainability Transitions 77
Matt Gitsham

10 Navigating Paradoxes 85
Wendy K. Smith and Marianne W. Lewis

11 The WHY, WHAT, and HOW of Leadership 95
Paul R. Carlile

III Organizational Culture 101

12 Developing a Curious Culture at Work 103
Diane Hamilton

13 Is Your Company Alive? 109
Mehran Gul

14 Staying in the Know in Extraordinary Times 115
Maja Korica

15 Stop Quiet Quitting Your Life 123
Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman

16 Policy: The Path to Prevent Burnout 131
Jennifer Moss

IV Voices of Difference 139

17 Voices of Difference at Work 141
Megan Reitz

18 Want More Female Leaders? Develop Leadership When It Matters Most 149
Julie Carrier

19 Servant Leadership, Cooperative Advantage, and Social Sustainability 159
Leon C. Prieto and Simone T.A. Phipps

20 Leaders Talk Less and Speak Last 167
Modupe Taylor- Pearce

V Talent Magnets 175

21 Deciding Whom to Promote: Beware of “DEIB Debt” 177
Gorick Ng

22 Justice at Work 183
David Liddle

23 Personal Branding in a Creator Economy 191
Kai D. Wright

24 The Need for High Achievers in the Era of Uncertainty 207
Ruth Gotian

VI Relationships@work 215

25 Curve Benders: Quality vs. Quantity of Strategic Relationships in the Future of Work 217
David Nour

26 Navigating Ambivalence in Our Professional Relationships 225
Amy Gallo

27 How Leaders Can Help Employees Face Uncertainty 233
Ben Whitter

About the Editor 241

Acknowledgments 243

Index 245

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