What to do when chaos at leaves you feeling stuck
I was newly promoted into an HR role when the merger hit.
Reporting lines shifted overnight. Teams reorganized. Leaders tried to relocate their families while maintaining stability at work. Every system, policy, and program seemed to be changing at once.
Chaos at work wasn’t a moment—it was daily life.
Every time I walked into my boss, Gail’s office with an idea, I came with same anxiety-induced questions:
Is this the right move? Will this create backlash? Do you think I should wait until things settle down?
She never let me finish the spiral.
Gail—would smile and say,
“Where there is chaos…”
and then pause, waiting for me to finish the sentence.
When I hesitated, she finished it for me.
“Where there is chaos, seize control.”
She said it almost daily. And at the time, it felt equal parts empowering and terrifying. 
The Questions That Cut Through Uncertainty
In these mentoring moments, Gail didn’t debate hypotheticals. She asked practical questions that forced clarity:
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Do we need this?
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Is it a sound business decision?
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Do you have a strong implementation plan?
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Is your team behind it?
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Has anyone clearly told you not to do it?
When the answers were yes, she stopped the discussion.
“By the time everyone figures out we need to do this, your team will already be doing it—and you’ll have results to prove it.
Just do it well. Tell me if you’re going to break any big rules. I’ve got your back.”
That was leadership permission—and leadership accountability—in one conversation.
What it Means to Seize Control
If “seize control” sounds aggressive, let’s reset the meaning.
It doesn’t mean grabbing power, ignoring people, or acting reckless or political.
It means you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start providing direction.
When chaos hits, confusion fills the gaps fast. If you don’t define what matters, something else will—fear, rumor, or inertia.
Strong leaders step into that gap with clarity and commitment.
Clarity and Commitment in the Middle of Chaos
When chaos at work runs high, clarity becomes a gift you give your team.
You don’t need every answer. You do need to decide what’s most important and what YOU can do about it. That’s clarity.
Commitment is what makes that clarity believable. You move forward and stay visible. You own the outcome—even when conditions are imperfect and opinions are plentiful.
When you do both, people stop spinning. They start moving.
How Strong Leaders Move When Others Freeze
When things feel messy, it’s tempting to wait. Strong leaders don’t. They choose motion—with intention.
Here’s how that shows up when you’re navigating chaos at work:
Act while others wait.
If the decision is sound and no one has stopped you, move. Progress creates confidence.
Build before you broadcast.
Test ideas. Deliver results. Let momentum do the persuading.
Build—don’t bash.
Criticism drains energy. Building creates it.
Go where the problems are.
Don’t sidestep the hard conversations. Show up calm, factual, and steady. People notice.
Demand teamwork.
Chaos doesn’t excuse silos or infighting. Collaboration is part of the job.
Know which rules matter.
Protect legal, ethical, and safety boundaries. Question habits that exist only because no one has challenged them.
Lead With Intensity—Live With Perspective
Gail always grounded her advice with this reminder:
“The job matters. It’s not everything.”
Leaders who protect time for rest, family, and reflection make better decisions—especially during uncertainty. Clear thinking requires space.
What Chaos at Work Reveals
When you hesitate, your team drifts.
When you provide clarity and show commitment, people move—even without perfect certainty.
“Where there is chaos, seize control” taught me to act instead of wait, take smart risks, protect people while producing results, and build momentum while others are still trying to make sense of the disruption.
If chaos is showing up at work right now, don’t wait for it to pass.
Step forward.
Create clarity.
Commit to action.
This is your leadership moment.
If you need a little help creating clarity in chaos, we can help. You can learn more about our leadership development programs here.
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