Leading Through Chaos: What Your Team Really Needs Right Now

The world is in chaos, business and life can be tough and unpredictable. As leaders, everyone wants a bit of us. There are constant changes in business priorities, everything is urgent, your manager keeps adding to your already overflowing priorities list, and your team never seems to be happy. And for most of us, there is a lot happening at home as well that we are juggling. 

Sound familiar? You're not alone. 

​

In times like these, it's tempting to think we need revolutionary new leadership approaches. But here's the thing: being an effective leader during difficult times needs us to get back to basics. Teams need clarity, stability, empathy and genuine care. And during change, they need it more than ever. 

1.  Flexibility and Adaptability is critical 

Our  environments, business and personal, are changing quickly and AI is accelerating that rate of change.  Leaders and team members need to be more adaptable and flexible and, using entrepreneur speak, need to learn the art of the pivot. As new information becomes known, when current actions are not achieving the results, we need to be flexible and adaptable and embrace the changes needed to move forward. 

    2.  Get back to basics – and make them clear 

When everything feels uncertain, your team needs you to answer three fundamental questions: 

• What am I supposed to do and why? 

• What are our top 3 business and strategic imperatives?  

• And honestly – what's in it for me?  

These aren't just operational queries; they're psychological lifelines.  

Don't assume people know their role's significance just because you've told them once. When the ground is shifting constantly, people need to hear it again and again. Connect their daily grind to the bigger picture. Help them see their personal stake in success, not just the company's. 

    3.  Structure Becomes Your Superpower 

Although this might sound counter-intuitive, “chaos needs structure”. Your people need clear direction, position descriptions, and KPIs that actually make sense, as constant change can make your team feel like they’re walking on quicksand. They need frequent feedback and open communication channels. Even when traditional career paths are disrupted, they still want to know where they're headed. 

    4.  Be Real, But Be Strong 

Leading through change requires real, open and honest conversations about challenges, while maintaining the calmness and confidence your team needs to see in you. Show empathy for their stress, but don't let that stop you from pushing for performance. Be transparent about what you don't know, but consistent in what you do. 

The leaders who thrive in chaos aren't those who pretend everything's fine – they're the ones who acknowledge their concerns and fears whilst being clear regarding next steps and areas of focus.  

    5.  Look after yourself. 

And finally, as a leader, you have a responsibility to your team and organisation, but you also need to look after yourself. Healthy teams can only thrive when they have a healthy leader.