Everything at work has gone nuts. Your boss is barking orders, your coworkers are panicked, and you’re pretty sure the front desk is on fire. When everything around you is falling apart, focus on the small tasks you can achieve.


As business site Inc. points out, chaotic situations are made worse when you try to solve everything at once. Rather than trying to focus on the big picture, find the small things that you can deal with quickly and get them done. Then, you can move on to the next. Before you even notice, the chaos will be a bit more manageable:

Identify small wins that the team can achieve quickly and easily. These quick wins need to be meaningful and celebrated, as that will help to boost confidence, increase morale and create momentum.


In my own life, I use the mantra “One thing at a time.” When I’m planning a project or taking a trip, there are always fifteen things that need to be done in a very short amount of time. When someone tells me three things that need to be done, I’ll break out that phrase, “One thing at a time,” and pick the first one I can accomplish. Once that’s done, I’ll move on to the next. Repeating the phrase over and over helps me focus on the individual tasks I need to accomplish to manage the chaos, rather than being overwhelmed by all the things I need to do at once.

7 Ways Successful Leaders Deal With Chaos and Uncertainty | Inc.