As you are well aware of – we are working in unprecedented times. For the majority of leaders in the United States today, we are being asked to do more with less resources. Many of us are
operating with still moist blueprints to move us forward towards our business goals that have been redefined with Kinsu knives to adjust to the current economy.
Many of my top performing clients are having fresh fantasies hoping that this ever-escalating churn rate will slow down – hungry for moving through the day at a more relaxed pace; wanting a guarantee that the defined project will stay the course and be allowed to finish without noisy interruption and even the fantasy of securing a parental pat on the back with a voice of authority that their job is secure.
So how confident are you with the moves of your work today? How well do you dance in the chaos of uncertainty that so many of us are facing today? How change hardy are you in this current landscape of work? Simply put – how well do you dance in chaos?
While there are many external forces coming at us much like a fire hose turned full on, many of my clients sometimes believe that there are few things that we can control in this current landscape. And, from an external perspective that may be true. But you can control your thoughts, mood and actions. Top performers who are surviving and thriving in this current terrain are doing three things consistently:
- Build in “time outs” (taking breaks for themselves) a couple of times during the day to unplug and reflect
- Know when to slow down and access their intuition verses moving through the day as a reactionary (brash) move maker and,
- Manage and pay attention to their moods much like a master gardener tends to an awarding wining rose garden.
Some personality types are well wired to be able to dance in the current tornado-like conditions of work dealing in high interrupt, high stress environments. Others, who appreciate structure and control are being challenged with all of the uncertainty that is present.
How well are you managing your own mood day-to-day? How well are you managing your energy, emotions and mind daily? How often are you pushing the “pause” button to calibrate your mood, thoughts and energy before walking into the meeting?
There are many leaders right now being challenged to become more competent to dance in the chaos. As the leader of your career, what can you do internally to ensure you navigate successfully during these tumultuous times? Consider crafting a daily practice allowing you to reflect before you go to work on the most important two or three goals for the day, set an intention for how you want to move throughout the day and remember to take mood management breaks throughout the day allowing you to be in better precision toward your defined daily goals with energy left over for your life at the end of the day. Hold the perspective that dancing in the chaos is different but not necessarily difficult.
Those who take proactive care internally will be making bold moves externally allowing for a more graceful dance in the chaos of their careers.



CHAOS … confusion, bedlam, anarchy, pandemonium, commotion … these are characteristics which modern America has vigorously sought to eliminate through its introduction to for-profit-corporate-interest sponsored education.
The tragedy is how easily “we” can be knocked off course with the slightest bump. Most of us are ill prepared to see the bump and ensuing chaos as opportunity to learn and to course correct. Why, because it being individually accountable and responsible is not part the America’s educational curriculum.
I finally learned to just stop and ask myself … what is the very worst that can befall me…? And whatever I determine it, I ask … is it bigger than me or I am bigger than it…? Or saying it another way, can I live with this outcome should it manifest…? In those instances when I honestly determine I am bigger than it … what moments ago was chaos is now a bump in the road a merely obstacle I have the opportunity to devise a plan to overcome.
Yea, you’re right … it’s easier said than done, but that’s part of the chaos right…?