I was reflecting on conversations I had with a couple of my executive coaching clients last week, and I was reminded of something you may find surprising.
Chaos gets a bad rap.
Quieting, containing, and calming chaos is important, but you can’t avoid it altogether and expect growth.
Both of these clients are dealing with a major shakeup in their respective organizations. Navigating change has their teams in a tizzy.
People are questioning what’s going on, wondering about the safety of their jobs, and worried about what’s to come. Understandably so.
Some leaders make the mistake of getting caught up in the drama. When the people looking to you for answers are concerned about their lives and livelihood, emotions run high.
But skilled leaders rise to the occasion.
Whether leading an organization or leading your own life, good leadership means looking beyond the present to see brighter possibilities for the future.
When you view chaos as a temporary, but necessary, measure for sorting things out into something better, it will give you an edge under any circumstances.
A leader’s job is to focus on the vision for where you’re headed and guide the way. Both of my clients know that their jobs are secure for now, so granted, it does make it easier for them to see the opportunity in the disorder to step up their leadership ability.
All things considered, a preoccupation with avoiding chaos is short-sighted. It keeps you stuck in one spot. Progress requires change, which comes with varying degrees of disorder.
The past few years have brought a lot of disruption to business and to the workplace, and we’re all dealing with more and more unknowns. Recognizing and seizing the opportunity to step up in the face of chaos has become essential for success.
Great things can happen, as long as you keep your cool, and don’t buy into the panic!
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