Andre von Mollendorff on equipping young people to live in Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous times.

Andre von Mollendorff

Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to venture bravely into the unknown world?

We are living VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) times. Things are changing rapidly, and we are experiencing exponential growth all around us.

The question is how we can prepare ourselves and our young people adequately to thrive in the future economy? As I look at my own children, I often wonder as a father, am I doing enough? How do I prepare my children for what they are going to face in the unknown future?

The traditional approach, obtaining a college education and working for a recognised corporate for many years and retiring with a nice pension fund is apparently not going to work in the future. The struggle is real as so many young people I know have spent years studying and still cannot find work.

This does not mean I am against tertiary education, it just says that I am seriously aware of the 'false security' that such an education can bring. I have to consider what other skills I will need to teach my children to most effectively prepare them for the future. As Stephane Kasriel, CEO of Upwork says, "The future of work won't be about degrees. More and more, it'll be about skills."

I have discovered that there are three life skills that I will focus on teaching my children.

1. Identity - If my children can be secure in their identities, I believe it will lay a solid foundation for the rest of their lives. A healthy self-awareness, self-esteem and a good self-image, will set them up not to compete with anyone else, but to be the best version of themselves. God is the only one that genuinely settles our identities. Therefore they will need to know how to hear His voice above the noise and chaos.

2. Social Connection - The ability to connect with other people and build meaningful and lasting friendships is a vital skill to learn. The basic skills of emotional intelligence and empathy will go a long way to helping them establish relationships.

3. Influence - How to lead and influence people for the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom is another crucial skill that I will be teaching them.

My question today to all parents, teachers and individuals is, what are you doing to develop your identity, build social connections and establish a stronger influence in society? Are you ready for the VUCA world?

Retrieved From CNBC.