Drowning in Chaos? Here’s How to Lead When Everything is Unraveling

"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." – Peter Drucker

Deep Breath

I take a deep breath every morning when I open my news app. Maybe that’s already my first mistake, starting my day with chaos. Every day, a certain someone makes headlines, but that’s a story for another day. What stands out to me right now, though, is this pervasive sense of chaos leadership.

I’ve always had a strange love-hate relationship with politics. It’s like an unhealthy co-dependent relationship, I love it, but I also know it’s bad for me. I can’t imagine being a world leader trying to navigate the chaos of today’s global disruptions. But there's a lesson in this, especially for leaders in organizations. The truth is, the leadership playbook doesn’t always give you all the answers, especially when you're working in a climate of constant disruption.

Pivot…pivot…PIVOOOTTT!

I remember a few years back, my own organization was undergoing a massive strategic shift. We adopted a lean startup mindset, and experimentation became the guiding principle for how we developed against our bold new vision. As a leader managing a large team at the time, I was thrown into the deep end, navigating through a dizzying array of weekly program launches, strategy changes, and my personal favorite: “pivots.”

I would regroup with my leadership team weekly (sometimes more), trying to make sense of the latest round of changes. The decisions we were discussing sometimes felt like a complete reversal from what had been decided just a week earlier. It was chaos. My job? To buffer that chaos and create space for my team to grow and deliver results.

From that experience, I learned that in times of chaos, there are a few things leaders can do to help their teams thrive while staying aligned with the organization’s objectives.

Action Steps for Leading in Chaos

Communicate Clearly and Often:

Chaos breeds confusion, so clear communication is your secret weapon. Transparency about the objectives is crucial. But don’t stop there; push your stakeholders (aka the chaos causers) to provide clear talking points. This helps you shape the narrative and ensures everyone is aligned.

Push Back Necessarily and Effectively:

You don’t have to accept every change that comes your way. But don’t just push back for the sake of it. You need to present evidence of the impact, show how the disruption might affect your team’s ability to execute. Then, find a reasonable middle ground that allows for progress without overburdening your team.

Be Strategically Curious:

Curiosity is your best tool in times of change. Ask questions. Dig deep to determine if there’s an agenda at play. Build the data points that help you figure out whether these changes are truly necessary, or if some people are just going rogue.

Manage Up:

Alignment with your boss is essential. But it’s equally important to ensure you’re aligned with your peers. A consistent leadership response is key so the organization understands the impact of the chaos. Don’t be afraid to manage upward to secure the clarity and resources needed to keep things moving smoothly.

Check the Pulse:

Chaos can take a toll on your team’s health and well-being. Keep a close eye on how things are going. Are your people getting overloaded? Are their stress levels rising? Don’t wait for the inevitable burnout; be proactive in addressing any concerns before they get out of hand.

Closing Thoughts

"You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Navigating through chaos isn't easy. It’s uncomfortable, unpredictable, and often exhausting. But leadership in chaotic times isn't about controlling the chaos, it’s about managing it effectively. By being strategic, communicative, and empathetic, you can help your team not just survive, but thrive in disruption.

When chaos strikes, remember: Don’t just react, lead.