5 Ways Leaders Can Manage the Madness at Work

March Madness is here, and I couldn’t be more excited. I love the drama, the passion, the skill, and the surprises of this time of year. But as much as we enjoy those surprise outcomes on the basketball court, we know surprises in leadership are a whole different story.

When chaos strikes, how do we manage it? How do we lead our teams through their own madness and keep our focus on what matters most?

Workplace chaos is unavoidable. From unexpected reorganizations to overwhelming workloads, leaders often find themselves navigating storms of stress and uncertainty. The good news? You don’t have to succumb to the madness. Instead, you can implement practical strategies to remain grounded, focused, and effective.

Here are five ways to manage the madness at work, with a free downloadable guide to help you apply these concepts both personally and with your team.

1. Control the Controllables.

When chaos strikes, it’s tempting to try to fix everything. But here’s the truth: you can’t control everything. In fact, there are very few things you can control, so just focus on those.

Think about driving in a blizzard. You can’t stop the snow, the wind, or the icy roads, but you can control your speed, your grip on the wheel, and your focus. The same principle applies at work.

Focus on what’s within your power—your attitude, your effort, and the tasks directly under your responsibility.

Resist the urge to white-knuckle through every challenge, as over-control can lead to burnout. Instead, take a balanced approach: let go of what you can’t control while confidently managing what you can.

• Action step: Reflect on one thing you’re currently over-managing and one thing you’re under-managing. What small adjustments can you make to control only the controllables?
  

2. Focus On Your Highest Value Activities

In chaotic times, it’s easy to confuse activity with accomplishment. When clarity is lacking, achievers often default to staying busy. But busyness isn’t always productive.

Identify your highest value activities—those tasks that align with your unique skills and bring the most significant results. Prioritize these over “low-value” tasks that might feel urgent but don’t contribute meaningfully to your goals. Ask yourself, “Am I working on what matters most, or just trying to stay busy?”

• Action step: Make a list of your top three highest value activities. Block time on your calendar this week to focus exclusively on these priorities.

3. Protect Your Relational Capacity

Leadership is about relationships.

In the midst of workplace madness, it’s crucial to invest in and protect your relational capacity. Every interaction matters—whether with team members, peers, or stakeholders. Strong relationships provide support, foster collaboration, and create opportunities for future growth.

However, chaos can tempt leaders to cocoon themselves, withdrawing from meaningful connections. Resist this tendency. Instead, prioritize relational health by giving people your full attention, seeking to serve, and leaving every relationship better than you found it. Remember, relationships are assets that hold value both now and in the future.

• Action step: Schedule a relational check-in with a team member, mentor, or peer. Ask how you can support them and actively listen.

4. Be Aware of Your Self-Talk

Your inner dialogue plays a massive role in how you handle chaos. Negative self-talk can amplify stress, while positive, truth-based self-talk can anchor you in confidence and clarity. Remember, the person you talk to most is yourself, so make sure those conversations are constructive.

Instead of defaulting to self-criticism (“I’m not good enough”) or blame (“This isn’t my fault”), focus on affirming truths: “I am a valuable contributor,” or, “I’m learning and growing through this experience.” By framing your narrative positively, you’ll build resilience and keep moving forward.

• Action step: Identify one negative thought you’ve been repeating to yourself. Replace it with a grace-filled truth.

5. Resist Overreacting to Your Feelings

In chaotic situations, emotions like fear, frustration, or doubt can dominate your decision-making if left unchecked. To lead effectively, you must process your feelings thoughtfully, moving from feel to think to act.

Imagine your emotions are a car going through a car wash. They need to be prepped, washed, and dried before you take action. By pausing to reflect on your emotions instead of reacting impulsively, you can make more grounded and wise decisions.

• Action step: The next time you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to journal. Write down what you’re feeling, what might be causing it, and one action step that aligns with your goals.

FREE INVENTORY DOWNLOAD

Navigating workplace madness is challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. To help you and your team apply these five principles, we’ve created a free tool that will help you assess your current leadership approach, and gauge just how much madness you're managing. This resource also includes discussion questions to facilitate team conversations.

Download the free tool now and start turning chaos into clarity. Whether you use it for personal growth or group discussions, this tool will help you stay focused, grounded, and effective in every season.