Chaos is a strategy (and how to respond to it)
Chaos is a strategy. We’ve seen it before. Think about the Trump administration’s first day in office - executive orders flying, confusion, and panic rippling through entire communities. It wasn’t accidental. It was intentional. It was designed to create instability and keep people scrambling. But recognizing that chaos is a strategy isn’t enough. The real question is: What is our counter-strategy?
This current time reminds me a lot of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was so much uncertainty and fear for the future. I was worried about the future of my business. Clients were panicking. Employees were fearful of job security. Livelihoods vanished overnight. And as a leader, I didn’t have a playbook. None of us did.
Amid the chaos, I went on a run (always where I do my best thinking), trying to figure out how to move forward. I listened to a podcast for creative agency owners. The host said something that stuck with me: Your job is to steer the ship. And you’re in stormy seas right now, but you have to figure out how you’re going to steer your ship. That’s when it clicked. When everything is unknown, the one thing you can always come back to is your core values.
So, I went back to Javelina’s core values and asked myself: How do these guide us right now? I created a document outlining each value and specific ways to apply it in the chaos of the moment. The next day, I shared it with my team. I wasn’t asking for input or discussion - I was steering my ship. In that moment, the team had something stable to anchor to.
That’s why having a plan isn’t just about logistics - it’s about reclaiming control. It simplifies the noise and helps you focus on what truly matters. A well-crafted plan establishes predictability, providing stability amid uncertainty. It prioritizes communication, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed. It emphasizes adaptability, allowing flexibility while maintaining direction. It gives people clear roles and expectations, reducing overwhelm. Most importantly, it allows you to zoom out and see the bigger picture rather than reacting to every twist and turn.
Linked below is a free worksheet to help you craft a plan for responding to chaos. Doing this with your team will create great discussion and help streamline your responses. But the first place to start is with your core values. They will ground your decisions in what matters most - no matter how shambolic things get.
One final piece of advice: Don’t give them more of your energy than the absolute bare minimum required. Gather the information you need about what’s coming down from the administration, but then shift your focus to executing your plan. Stay focused on what you can control.
Because chaos is intentional - and rising above it is the most effective counter-strategy.