Certain Uncertainty

Certain Uncertainty

by Des Dearlove
Released May 2023
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781394153459

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Book description

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.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. About Thinkers50
  6. Foreword
  7. Introduction
    1. Certain Uncertainty
    2. An Unpredictable World
    3. About Thinkers50
    4. Notes
  8. I: Future Thinking
    1. 1 Resilient, Net Positive Leadership
      1. Diversity and Redundancy
      2. Networks of Support
      3. Purpose and Mission
      4. Conclusion
      5. Biography
      6. Notes
    2. 2 Leading Like a Futurist
      1. Seeing Bold Futures and the Big, Long Picture
      2. Shaping Potential Futures: Investing in Sustainable and Equitable Outcomes
      3. Share Futures That Make Us Feel
      4. We Can All Lead Like Futurists
      5. Biography
      6. Notes
    3. 3 The Privilege of Leadership
      1. Self‐Awareness Is Key
      2. The Weight of Leadership
      3. Embedding Friction Before Decision‐Making
      4. Leadership Will Always Be Necessary: Let's Make It Equitable
      5. Manifesting of Privilege: One of Life's Constants
      6. Biography
      7. Notes
    4. 4 Leading from the Future (Not the Past)
      1. In Futures, We Grow
      2. New Beginnings
      3. The Wisdom Gap
      4. Future‐Focused, We Grow
      5. Uncertain Times Require Future‐Makers
      6. Biography
    5. 5 Toward Uncertainty Ability
      1. Reframing
      2. Priming
      3. Doing
      4. Sustaining
      5. Biographies
      6. Notes
  9. II: Transformational Leadership
    1. 6 Leading with the Head and Heart
      1. Modern Leaders Among Us
      2. The Eight Attributes of a Head and Heart Leader
      3. Head‐Based Leadership Attributes
      4. Heart‐Based Leadership Attributes
      5. The Art of Modern Leadership
      6. Biography
      7. Note
    2. 7 The Nine Derailers of Strategy
      1. Dealing with VUCA
      2. Strategic Problems
      3. Tactical Problems
      4. Intangible Problems
      5. Summary Recommendations
      6. Biography
      7. Notes
    3. 8 Radical Empathy
      1. Making the Case
      2. Biography
      3. Notes
    4. 9 Leading Sustainability Transitions
      1. A Business Imperative
      2. Leading Disruption
      3. A New Compass
      4. Biography
      5. Notes
    5. 10 Navigating Paradoxes
      1. Leadership Challenges as Paradoxes
      2. Why Now?
      3. From Either/Or to Both/And Thinking
      4. The Paradox System
      5. Biographies
      6. Note
    6. 11 The WHY, WHAT, and HOW of Leadership
      1. Biography
      2. Notes
  10. III: Organizational Culture
    1. 12 Developing a Curious Culture at Work
      1. What Is Curiosity?
      2. What Inhibits Curiosity?
      3. How to Fix It?
      4. Biography
      5. Notes
    2. 13 Is Your Company Alive?
      1. Biography
      2. Notes
    3. 14 Staying in the Know in Extraordinary Times
      1. The Work of Staying in the Know
      2. Better Habits for Extraordinary Times
      3. Beyond Naïve Organizations
      4. Biography
      5. Notes
    4. 15 Stop Quiet Quitting Your Life
      1. Biographies
      2. Notes
    5. 16 Policy
      1. When the Tank Empties
      2. Prioritizing Psychological Safety
      3. The Frameworks to Follow
      4. Biography
      5. Notes
  11. IV: Voices of Difference
    1. 17 Voices of Difference at Work
      1. Mistake #1: Trying to Fix the Silent People
      2. Mistake #2: Trying to Avoid the P Word
      3. Mistake #3: Asking People to Bring Their Whole Selves to Work … Except for the Tricky Bits
      4. Closing Thoughts
      5. Biography
    2. 18 Want More Female Leaders? Develop Leadership When It Matters Most
      1. Leader Identity
      2. Biography
      3. Notes
    3. 19 Servant Leadership, Cooperative Advantage, and Social Sustainability
      1. The Role of Servant Leadership
      2. Striving for a Cooperative Advantage
      3. Achieving Social Sustainability in Uncertain Times
      4. Biographies
      5. Notes
    4. 20 Leaders Talk Less and Speak Last
      1. In Conclusion
      2. Biography
  12. V: Talent Magnets
    1. 21 Deciding Whom to Promote
      1. Be Mindful of Who Leads Your Company
      2. Be Mindful of Who Represents Your Company
      3. Be Mindful of Who Speaks at Your Company
      4. Biography
      5. Note
    2. 22 Justice at Work
      1. Time for Change
      2. A New Social Contract
      3. Introducing Transformative Justice
      4. The Role of HR
      5. Courage and Fresh Thinking
      6. Biography
    3. 23 Personal Brand Building in a Creator Economy
      1. Follow the Feeling
      2. The Future Economy
      3. Biography
      4. Notes
    4. 24 The Need for High Achievers in the Era of Uncertainty
      1. Learning Development Plan
      2. Stretch Assignments
      3. Situational Leadership
      4. Room to Work
      5. Don't Disrupt the Flow State
      6. Inner Mobility
      7. Reward Your High Achievers
      8. Mentor Them
      9. Biography
      10. Notes
  13. VI: Relationships@Work
    1. 25 Curve Benders
      1. The Changing Landscape of Advance
      2. Business Relationships as a Strategic Assets
      3. How to Invest in Relationships
      4. Strategic Relationships in Action
      5. Biography
      6. Note
    2. 26 Navigating Ambivalence in Our Professional Relationships
      1. Accept Ambivalence as Normal
      2. Control “the Controllable”
      3. Observe and Analyze
      4. Interrogate Your Biases
      5. Watch for Mixed Messages
      6. Focus on Your Goal
      7. Emphasize the Positive
      8. Occupying Frenemy Territory
      9. Biography
      10. Notes
    3. 27 How Leaders Can Help Employees Face Uncertainty
      1. Uncertain Times, Uncertain Leadership
      2. The Business Case for Human‐Centered Leadership
      3. Turning Points: Moments That Matter
      4. Leaders We Can Trust
      5. Biography
      6. Notes
  14. About the Editor
  15. Acknowledgments
  16. Index
  17. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Certain Uncertainty
  • Author(s): Des Dearlove
  • Release date: May 2023
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781394153459