Leading Through Chaos: Must Have Strategies to Thrive

Global disruption is increasing at an alarming rate. Now more than ever, leaders must equip themselves to guide their organizations through tumultuous times. This chaos can come from different sources for example, social changes, economic fluctuations, technological disruptions, and significant political shifts. Successful leaders know how to remain calm in the storm and guide their organizations through the turbulence.  

You can’t escape it. Whether on the nightly news, social media, the radio, or even at work around the virtual water cooler, you hear of the global chaos. There is the war in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, the major political shift happening in USA politics, prolonged civil disorder in many countries, weather extremes due to climate change, and a resurgence of diseases once thought to be eradicated in some geographies.

The impact is felt in large economies like the USA and small island states like Haiti. The chaos is real. That is on the heels of the global COVID-19 pandemic that took millions of lives, placed the global supply chain in a tailspin, and further opened the door to extremists. All that is coupled with a spike in fear that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take over our jobs.

Chaos can bring emotional turmoil to some and paralysis to others. It can upend our thought process, drive disorder, create confusion, and foster a sense of loss and fear.

Now. Take a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Breathe slowly.

I have some good news: Chaos also brings new opportunities. We witnessed how the recent global pandemic brought a boost in the usage of technologies such as virtual conferencing. We also saw a rise in convenience services such as mobile delivery methods. Similarly, there are many opportunities waiting to be discovered and leveraged through this current global chaos.

 It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most adaptable to change.  – Charles Darwin

Chaos will come. Our job as leaders is to effectively guide our organizations through the chaos. Here’s the reality: We cannot lead others through turbulence if we’re anxious and paralyzed.

Mastering The Art of Calm in the Storm

There are many actions you can take to help you remain calm in the storm. Here are a few.

1. Leverage your spiritual power. As Christ-centered leaders, our first step is always reaching up to where our help comes from – God. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us not to let chaos get us anxious, but with a thankful heart, ask God what we need, and He will give us peace.

2. Take time for self-care. Use emotionally calming techniques such as meditation, exercising, or listening to music. Create space to think and plan without outside negative influences. That may include a pause from media, social or the nightly news, for a while. Self-care helps with mental preparation to effectively handle chaos.

3. Be on your A-game. Maintain self-control and patience to avoid overreacting. This requires being in touch with the environment to sense what’s coming so you can take a proactive stance.

4. Develop resilience. Start by viewing every challenge as a catalyst for transformation. Focus on what’s in your control and remain focused on your objectives. Model this resilience through remaining calm under pressure, and demonstrating a willingness to tackle challenges head on.

5. Create a plan. Take time to develop a path forward and be ready to take decisive steps. Opportunities come and go but do not last very long during normal times. The survival span of opportunities is even shorter during chaotic times. Have a bias for action versus stalling in perpetual analysis.

While there are many actions a person can take to maintain control and calm, the above list is a good starting point. Once in a state of control and calm, you are ready to lead and guide your organization through the storm.

Strategies to Guide Your Organization Through Turbulence

Here are a few steps you can take to help your team navigate a tumultuous period.

1. Remain calm and in control. Role model emotional resilience. Organizations tend to reflect the characteristics of their leader.

2. Communicate effectively. Misinformation and uncertainty lead to increased anxiety during crises. Therefore, it’s important to have frequent, transparent, and open communication with your team. Simplify issues and connect the dots to make sense of the senseless. This will eliminate confusion for them.

3. Drive a positive mindset. A positive mindset increases hope and helps the organization remain focused on the objective. Staying focused on the objective reduces distraction and increases your chance of success.

4. Foster resilience. It builds agility and adaptability. A culture of resilience and flexibility will enable an organization to thrive during tumultuous times. Help your team approach every obstacle as an opportunity for something better.

5. Share a clear path forward. An actionable and realistic plan will provide direction through the chaos. It helps folks stay grounded in an objective. Prepare to adapt, if necessary, to a new direction.

6. Encourage self-care. Demonstrate empathy and compassion. Encourage members to leverage available employer’s self-care benefits. Teams who feel supported will be more effective at handling uncertainty with confidence.  

Navigating chaos requires a multifaceted approach that begins with a forward-focused response to the situation. It’s crucial that leaders know how to compassionately guide their teams through the storm.

Those who leverage the strategies outlined above can effectively guide their organizations through turbulent times. They must first recognize the unique challenges driven by this environment, adopt a position of calm, and empower their teams with the right tools to navigate the situation. These are must-have strategies to successfully guide an organization through chaotic times.

Empowered Leader Reflection

What are you proactively doing to thrive, not just survive, in the current tumultuous environment?

If this resonated with you, would you share your thoughts with us below?

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