Embracing Chaos

I often talk to executives who just wish the world would stop for a bit so that they can get everything appropriately organized and working properly. All I can do is laugh at the notion and tell them that the world is speeding up, not slowing down. Roll with it.   

Leaders operate in a chaotic, unpredictable world where the only constant is change. Consequently, they must accept the fact that they will learn by doing. They must learn where the challenges are, where the targets are moving, where the job is being done for the first time. Chaos is the normal state.

Effective leaders galvanize their teams to make the improvements necessary to achieve their vision of how things should be. But unless they continue to evolve, adapt, and adjust to external change, the organization will eventually stall. In other words, you must possess the ability to use your experiences to grow within your job. Resolve to thrive on the chaos.

True leaders are forged in a crucible of experience, and the more crises and tests you survive, the more likely you are to become a good leader. Stop asking for the world to slow down and start teaching your people to thrive on chaos as well. This is the way.