BANI highlights that leaders must now manage psychological overload - not just ambiguity. It’s not just about solving problems; it’s about holding your team together. Emotional Intelligence is a must-have.
\nIf you want to read the last issue you can get it HERE.
\nThe proverbial bottom line is that our world is unstable, ambiguous, and increasingly difficult to navigate. Welcome to the wicked world. (I’ve decided to put all three terms described in MindPrep 303 under the overarching umbrella of “wicked.”)
\nIn this world, the rules change without notice, yesterday’s expertise can become today’s liability, and the path forward is anything but clear.
\nFurthermore, I’ve decided to call the disruptive forces that roam this landscape dragons. Not because they are mythical, but because they are formidable. Some dragons are old enemies - climate risks, economic upheaval, cultural division. Others are newly hatched - AI anomalies, social unrest, and black swan events. All are real. All are dangerous.
\nHere are a handful of tools and techniques you might want to try.
\nEnvironmental Scanning and Signal Detection: Spot emerging challenges and avoid being blindsided. There WILL be another pandemic. Are you watching for clues?
\nMental Model Audit: Break out of outdated thinking habits and see problems more clearly. Does Porter’s Five Forces model need to be modified? What industry describes Amazon?
\nForesight-Based Planning: Prepare - not predict - for multiple potential futures. What happens when an AI bot “discovers” the gene editing capabilities of CRISPR-Cas9? A 2030 Frankenstein monster?
\nDecision-Making Under Uncertainty: Make smart choices when no clear answer exists. How are we going with the ongoing drought in the western states?
\nReflective Learning: Act quickly, adapt constantly, and learn fast. Tariffs are a 2025 reality. How quickly can you realign your global supply chain?
\nWant to make this personal? Consider the above tools and techniques and consider the impact that AI may or will have on your job. AI is making the world of work very wicked indeed.
\nAdapt the eight enduring skills we discussed in our 2006 book The Prepared Mind of a Leader. Fit them into your thinking about today’s wicked world.
\nI’m going to dig a bit into the “dragon” term and explain how it applies to today’s challenges. I’ve always been fascinated with old maps and the “Here be Dragons” warning on the edge of the maps. Let’s see if we can understand and tame these brutes in today’s wicked world.
\nDuring the pandemic I facilitated some webinars for a couple of large businesses addressing the challenges of intercepting the future. I’m thinking of updating the material and offering it as a half-day, open-enrollment session. It won’t be free, but the fee will be reasonable. Let me know what you think about my idea.
\nCheers,
\nBill
\n\n","recentPosts":[{"id":9238821,"title":"MindPrep 305 – There be Dragons in Your Wicked World","slug":"mindprep-305-there-be-dragons-in-your-wicked-world","status":"published","readingTime":3,"campaignCompletedAt":"2025-06-02T10:05:11.000Z","publishedAt":"2025-06-02T10:05:11.000Z","orderByDate":"2025-06-02T10:05:11.000Z","timeAgo":"4 days","thumbnailUrl":"https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/obQ8yXjHt6EXFGMJQYVxyA/x1tQTPJJAnwyCjoidrRDf8/email","thumbnailAlt":"","path":"posts/mindprep-305-there-be-dragons-in-your-wicked-world","url":"https://mindprep.kit.com/posts/mindprep-305-there-be-dragons-in-your-wicked-world","isPaid":null,"introContent":"Reader, I mentioned the dragon metaphor in the last issue of MindPrep. Why? Because they thrive in the wicked world in which we live and operate our businesses. This world is not just filled with puzzles, but also with complex challenges (good and bad) that morph as we try to resolve them. These challenges defy simple solutions. They blur the line between cause and effect and resist conventional planning. It’s a world where supply chains crumble, customer habits shift, and technology moves...","campaignId":19663124,"publicationId":16230809,"metaDescription":null},{"id":9105925,"title":"MindPrep 303: Wicked? VUCA? BANI? All three? (Part 1)","slug":"mindprep-303-wicked-vuca-bani-all-three-part-1","status":"published","readingTime":4,"campaignCompletedAt":"2025-05-19T11:02:30.000Z","publishedAt":"2025-05-19T11:02:30.000Z","orderByDate":"2025-05-19T11:02:30.000Z","timeAgo":"18 days","thumbnailUrl":"data:image/png;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQEAeAB4AAD/2wBDAAoHBwkHBgoJCAkLCwoMDxkQDw4ODx4WFxIZJCAmJSMgIyIoLTkwKCo2KyIjMkQyNjs9QEBAJjBGS0U+Sjk/QD3/2wBDAQsLCw8NDx0QEB09KSMpPT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09P","thumbnailAlt":"","path":"posts/mindprep-303-wicked-vuca-bani-all-three-part-1","url":"https://mindprep.kit.com/posts/mindprep-303-wicked-vuca-bani-all-three-part-1","isPaid":null,"introContent":"Reader , This is long (about a thousand words) so get a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Part 1 of 2 Many of you know that I’ve been writing about wicked worlds for a while and that my “summer project” is to write a follow-on to the 2006 book The Prepared Mind of a Leader. But while researching and thinking about wicked worlds I kept coming across two other acronyms, VUCA and BANI. Since all three might apply to my quest to explain and find tools for today’s mess I did a bit of...","campaignId":19500897,"publicationId":16067581,"metaDescription":null},{"id":9039579,"title":"MindPrep 302 – Plans for The Prepared Mind: Rewired","slug":"mindprep-302-plans-for-the-prepared-mind-rewired","status":"published","readingTime":2,"campaignCompletedAt":"2025-05-12T12:11:31.000Z","publishedAt":"2025-05-12T12:11:31.000Z","orderByDate":"2025-05-12T12:11:31.000Z","timeAgo":"25 days","thumbnailUrl":"https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/obQ8yXjHt6EXFGMJQYVxyA/bKvFXhb684WxQfs2GDtnGh","thumbnailAlt":"","path":"posts/mindprep-302-plans-for-the-prepared-mind-rewired","url":"https://mindprep.kit.com/posts/mindprep-302-plans-for-the-prepared-mind-rewired","isPaid":null,"introContent":"Reader, I’ve been investigating and writing about a special level of complexity – wickedness – for about a year. As I’ve said before, wickedness, in this context, doesn’t imply evil—it means unpredictability, interconnectedness, and the absence of clear cause-and-effect relationships. In a wicked world: The “rules of the game” are ambiguous, temporary, or contested. (Will today’s best practices regarding AI work next year?) Feedback loops are broken or delayed. (What will shipping fees be...","campaignId":19424661,"publicationId":15991288,"metaDescription":null}],"newsletter":{"formId":2328301,"productId":null,"productUrl":null,"featuredPostId":7864166,"subscribersOnly":false},"isPaidSubscriber":false,"isSubscriber":false,"originUrl":"https://mindprep.kit.com/posts/mindprep-304-wicked-vuca-bani-all-three-part-2","creatorProfileName":"Bill @ MindPrep ","creatorProfileId":11623}
Reader The last issue of MindPrep ended with three realities: Linear thinking is obsolete. None of these frameworks support the notion that you can define a problem clearly, solve it once, and be done. Cause - effect relationships are scrambled. Strategy must be adaptive, not predictive. Wicked worlds, VUCA, and BANI all warn us to stop trying to control the uncontrollable. We must scan for signals, place bets, learn, and revise often. Emotions and cognition are inseparable. If you want to read the last issue you can get it HERE. And so …..The proverbial bottom line is that our world is unstable, ambiguous, and increasingly difficult to navigate. Welcome to the wicked world. (I’ve decided to put all three terms described in MindPrep 303 under the overarching umbrella of “wicked.”) In this world, the rules change without notice, yesterday’s expertise can become today’s liability, and the path forward is anything but clear. Furthermore, I’ve decided to call the disruptive forces that roam this landscape dragons. Not because they are mythical, but because they are formidable. Some dragons are old enemies - climate risks, economic upheaval, cultural division. Others are newly hatched - AI anomalies, social unrest, and black swan events. All are real. All are dangerous. So, what can you do?Here are a handful of tools and techniques you might want to try. Environmental Scanning and Signal Detection: Spot emerging challenges and avoid being blindsided. There WILL be another pandemic. Are you watching for clues?
Mental Model Audit: Break out of outdated thinking habits and see problems more clearly. Does Porter’s Five Forces model need to be modified? What industry describes Amazon?
Foresight-Based Planning: Prepare - not predict - for multiple potential futures. What happens when an AI bot “discovers” the gene editing capabilities of CRISPR-Cas9? A 2030 Frankenstein monster?
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: Make smart choices when no clear answer exists. How are we going with the ongoing drought in the western states?
Reflective Learning: Act quickly, adapt constantly, and learn fast. Tariffs are a 2025 reality. How quickly can you realign your global supply chain?
Want to make this personal? Consider the above tools and techniques and consider the impact that AI may or will have on your job. AI is making the world of work very wicked indeed. A Prepared MindAdapt the eight enduring skills we discussed in our 2006 book The Prepared Mind of a Leader. Fit them into your thinking about today’s wicked world.
Next IssueI’m going to dig a bit into the “dragon” term and explain how it applies to today’s challenges. I’ve always been fascinated with old maps and the “Here be Dragons” warning on the edge of the maps. Let’s see if we can understand and tame these brutes in today’s wicked world. An “Ask”During the pandemic I facilitated some webinars for a couple of large businesses addressing the challenges of intercepting the future. I’m thinking of updating the material and offering it as a half-day, open-enrollment session. It won’t be free, but the fee will be reasonable. Let me know what you think about my idea. Cheers, Bill |
Four careers over 50+ years. USMC, engineering, consulting, education. Past twenty years have focused on helping leaders become and remain relevant during times of change.
Reader, I mentioned the dragon metaphor in the last issue of MindPrep. Why? Because they thrive in the wicked world in which we live and operate our businesses. This world is not just filled with puzzles, but also with complex challenges (good and bad) that morph as we try to resolve them. These challenges defy simple solutions. They blur the line between cause and effect and resist conventional planning. It’s a world where supply chains crumble, customer habits shift, and technology moves...
Reader , This is long (about a thousand words) so get a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Part 1 of 2 Many of you know that I’ve been writing about wicked worlds for a while and that my “summer project” is to write a follow-on to the 2006 book The Prepared Mind of a Leader. But while researching and thinking about wicked worlds I kept coming across two other acronyms, VUCA and BANI. Since all three might apply to my quest to explain and find tools for today’s mess I did a bit of...
Reader, I’ve been investigating and writing about a special level of complexity – wickedness – for about a year. As I’ve said before, wickedness, in this context, doesn’t imply evil—it means unpredictability, interconnectedness, and the absence of clear cause-and-effect relationships. In a wicked world: The “rules of the game” are ambiguous, temporary, or contested. (Will today’s best practices regarding AI work next year?) Feedback loops are broken or delayed. (What will shipping fees be...