My Secret Recipe for Managing in Mayhem
By Chris Obst

There's no denying there are a lot of things that are out of our control right now. But there always are. How can you effectively manage people on your team despite this mayham? Here's my secret recipe:

Step 1 - Gather your ingredients
Gather your data. When instability becomes tangible, it can be really tempting to go searching through volumes and volumes of data - data that will change everything. But your goal is to do more than collect data, your goal is to manage in mayhem. This is only the first step, so don't get stuck here.

Step 2 - Sift
Keep Moving. Make sure you understand the data. Share it with your team. Get their input. Make some decisions. You've got more to do though so don't get paralyzed here either.

Step 3 - Stir gently
Communicate, communicate, communicate. Be open and honest. Be optimistic and realistic. Be authentic. Ask a lot of questions; not like an interrogator, "Why didn't you....?" but like a coach, "What is the biggest concern you have right now? What would you like to do about it?"

Step 4 - Allow resting time
Be extra diligent about recovery, for you and your whole team. Stress takes its toll and regular recovery is the key to minimizing the effects of chronic stress. Dough needs to rest to grow, and so do you - it's chemistry.

Step 5 - Laugh
Yes really, laugh. I can give you a scientific reason for why people think and work better after a good laugh but do you really need that? When people are scared, or unsettled, make the time to build trust and confidence. Have some fun together. Shift the perspective. We all need to be able to laugh.

Note: This recipe is best served immediately.

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TAKING ACTION THIS MONTH:
You may have noticed that my recipe for Managing in Mayhem is an awful lot like my recipe for Managing. It is, but I've boosted the fun and so should you. The only way to effect positive change is to find a way to have a positive perspective. It may not seem like the time, but it is. Now is exactly the time to start creating the change we want to see in the world.

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