Leading Through Chaos

Use this strategic lens, first developed by the military, to bring clarity to uncertain times

Business and policy leaders increasingly find themselves leading through chaos. Just a generation ago, the world appeared more stable, more predictable, linear, and manageable. But since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the bipolar Cold War era, we’ve entered an era of accelerated, interconnected change, which has only intensified in recent years.

Today, an event on one side of the world can ripple throughout the rest of the world in real time. The COVID-19 pandemic made this visible to all, impacting not just public health and security but also economies, supply chains, and local business operations. The whole world has become deeply interconnected. Inevitably, this has led to even the most local of businesses being exposed to global events.

Leaders in politics and business increasingly sense that they are leading their teams through chaos, where a new crisis could break out at any moment, requiring them to revise their plans and push in a new direction. The biggest driver in this new norm is a shifting context.