The  COVID-19 global health crisis is of unprecedented scale in our  lifetimes. The resulting economic shocks will reverberate among our  countries, our communities and our businesses for years to come.

The U.S. Army War College, in the post-Cold War era, coined the term  “VUCA” (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity). The world,  especially since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, has been characterized  by all of the above.

However, the current pandemic has substituted “chaos” for “complexity.”  Questions abound, with no certain answers. Questions like:

• How can my business survive?
• How long will this virus be around?
• How will this permanently alter the way we live, work, shop, and play?
• How will we meet societal needs?
• What will this do to my supply chains and markets?

These are but a few of the questions that come into play as we think about the uncertain and volatile world.

However, in the midst of the crisis there are also silver linings – opportunities for re-invention, innovation, and a “re-set.”

The smart companies will tap their board members as partners in this  journey. As we think about the profile of the next director, the person  would not necessarily meet the classic profile of a retired CEO or CFO,  but would ideally be pulled from a more nontraditional pool.

Your next director should be more attribute based, i.e.:

• Intellectually curious and agile
• Tri-sector exposure (private sector, public sector and social sector)
• Be a builder and “re-conceptualizer”
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate emerging trends with new ways of doing business

In  this upside-down world, we must put a premium on a director who  embraces uncertainty and is adept at looking at trends, connecting the  dots, and helping with “sense-making.”

Look beyond the obvious candidate for your next post COVID-19 Director.  That individual, by definition, will be more diverse (gender, ethnicity,  age and entrepreneurial mind-set). He or she may be just the person you  need to help the organization not only survive, but thrive, in this  chaotic world in which we live.

BoardReady helps companies think through their board leadership and how  to diversify their thinking, connecting businesses like yours with  exemplary director candidates who will help your organization adapt and  prosper in the uncertain times that lie ahead. For more information,  visit boardready.io or email Jeni Elam Jeni@boardready.io to setup a meeting.