Thriving in the Midst of Chaos

As a leader, talk is cheap. Action is what counts and practice makes a difference. Below are
practical steps to improve performance.
• Surround yourself with wise counsel. Leadership in the midst of chaos requires leaning
on the perspectives of those you trust. Proactively seek them out to lead others through
chaos.
• Step back and look at the big picture. Avoid becoming myopic and hyper-focused on the
chaos only to miss out on the opportunities that change and upheaval can often create.
• Take care of yourself first. Self-care is a significant strategy and important component of
leadership in any situation, but it becomes even more critical in sustained chaos. You
can’t take care of anyone else if you’re not first taking care of yourself.
• Recognize others for continuing to show up and be counted on in chaos. Often, your
people will remain positive and optimistic in chaos when they know you care about
them and appreciate their efforts. Forgetting to do this makes working in chaos
exponentially worse for your teams.
• Stay coachable. Great leaders are always humble and seek the advice of others. Asking
for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Make learning a priority. Broaden your perspective. Books, blogs and podcasts (like The
Frustrated CEO!) can be a source of new ideas and perspectives to help you thrive in
chaos.
• Avoid quick fixes. Look for long-term solutions that help you emerge from the chaos
stronger than before rather than short-term firefighting that often lacks a wholistic
approach and might fix one thing while creating additional problems.
• Let your corporate values guide you and be the litmus test for any decision during times
of chaos. When the chips are down, it’s more important than ever to lean on your
values and ensure they’re not just words on the wall. Let your values keep you grounded
and true to who you are in times of chaos!
• Get creative and engage your teams in the process of thriving in chaos. Brainstorm with
them to find innovative ways to move through and ultimately beyond the chaos. You
don’t have to have all the answers, but you can bring others together and enable them
to find answers with you.
• Don’t forget to have fun! The importance of fun in an organization is often underrated.
If work isn’t fun, the chaos will overwhelm your entire organization.