Leading Through Chaos

Years ago, I was a member of a senior leadership team as our business navigated a trifecta of threats that eroded a third of our gross margin. Under the CEO’s leadership, we came together as one team, made hard calls after hard calls, and communicated our decisions with transparency and empathy. I was shocked when my team’s annual employee engagement scores increased 20 absolute percentage points during this period. When we talked about these results, they said they always knew where management stood, trusted us to do the right thing and saw that we were doing our best in tremendously difficult times.

Every leader eventually encounters tough moments when everything becomes more challenging. Whether it’s due to changing market conditions, a public relations crisis, a top priority initiative that is struggling, significant organizational changes or just an overwhelming number of demands, it can start off feeling manageable. You put in extra hours, stay late, rally the troops and push through to keep everything on track. But as time goes on, those same tactics can begin to falter. What once felt like determination can start to morph into chronic strain.

I hear this from the leaders I coach all the time. They carry the heavy burden of responsibility for their teams and organizations while also trying to navigate their own uncertainties. Many feel they must always be the strong one. Research suggests otherwise. Deloitte discovered that organizations led by individuals who exhibit transparency and humanity during tough times are three times more likely to have highly engaged employees. Similarly, McKinsey found that leaders who show care and flexibility tend to maintain stronger performance during downturns.

The tricky part is that our instinct when under pressure is often to tighten our grip. We zero in on urgent tasks, skip breaks and push aside any time for reflection. On the surface, this might seem like control, but in reality, it leaves little room for clear thinking or genuine connection.

Leading through tough times isn’t about being unshakeable and flawless. It’s about being present and making choices that keep everyone aligned and supported. This calls for regular, honest self-reflection: How am I showing up right now? What does my team need most from me? Where can I bring clarity when everything else feels uncertain?

It also means tuning into the signals within ourselves. Am I feeling constantly drained? Am I pulling away from others? Am I projecting confidence while sacrificing honesty? These signals are important because they shape how we lead.

Resilience in leadership isn’t about being unyielding; it’s about being flexible and bouncing back with clarity. Teams don’t look to their leaders for flawless performance; they seek steadiness, transparency and trust. According to Gallup research, employees who feel their leaders communicate a clear strategy are more than four times as likely to stay engaged even when times get tough.

Tough times are an inevitable part of leadership. The real question isn’t how to dodge them, but how to navigate through them with awareness and compassion.

Here’s something to ponder: When you’re facing challenges, what keeps you grounded? And how can you share that sense of steadiness with your team so they feel supported and empowered to do their best work?

Leadership isn’t about pretending challenges don’t exist; it’s about seeing the gold that’s within them and guiding yourself and others through them with intention and purpose.