So. Much. Overwhelm.
There’s no doubt about it… the world’s a bit of a mess right now. Politics. The economy. War. Division. AI apparently coming for our kids. And trading conditions? Absolutely brutal.
And marketing leaders are at the eye of the storm; under tremendous pressure to deliver ROI, to drive greater growth with smaller budgets, to stay ahead of tech that’s moving faster than ever and withstand the bombardment of interference from anyone on the board who’s got insta on their phone or who’s daughter’s on TikTok!
Keeping themselves and their teams calm and focused has never been more of a challenge.
And the irony is that even though we’ve been working more, we’re not necessarily achieving more. A recent Slack survey reaching 18,000 people found that we’re working an average of 90 mins more a day compared to pre-Covid times, which is the equivalent of an extra day a week. At the same time, people-engagement scores have gone down significantly, which means that motivation and therefore productivity has actually decreased.
So we’re working longer hours, being less productive and are less motivated and also more stressed than ever. Great.
Breaking the Cycle of Chaos
But here’s the thing… We don’t have to exist in this madness. We don’t have to give in to the chaos and the panic. In fact, all that frantic energy is just adding fuel to the flames.
When the pace is relentless and the hours are ridiculous, no one is at their best. You can’t think clearly when you’re constantly reacting. You can’t innovate when you’re exhausted. And you definitely can’t lead well when you’re just trying to survive the week.
So, if any of this feels familiar, here are three simple things that can make a huge difference when you’re leading through change:
Get clear on what you’re actually trying to achieve
Without a clear vision, everyone ends up running in different directions,. When people don’t know where they’re headed, they burn energy guessing, double-checking, second-guessing, and firefighting. Clarity isn’t a luxury; it’s oxygen for performance.
As a leader, it’s your job to paint that picture of success, not in vague buzzwords or a 200 slide deck, but in a simple, clear format (ideally on ONE PAGE!) that people can actually see, feel, remember and feel part of.
Figure out what really matters
Because here’s the truth: not everything on that to-do list deserves to be there.
Some things are urgent but meaningless. Others are strategic but buried under noise. Leading through change means cutting ruthlessly; saying no to what doesn’t move you forward.
Ask yourself (and your team):
👉 What are the priorities that will get us where we need to go?
👉 What can we stop doing because it’s not making a difference?
👉 What are the right behaviours that are going to ensure we get there?
Real leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about making sure everyone is focused on what matters most and letting go of what doesn’t.
Make sure everyone knows point one and two!
Most chaos doesn’t come from change itself, it comes from confusion. People can handle tough times if they understand why things are happening and what they’re meant to be doing.
Clarity breeds confidence. Confidence breeds calm. And calm will create the right conditions to make good decisions and override the chaos.
So talk to your teams. Share your thinking. Give people the space to ask questions. And most importantly, listen.
Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of us are paid to think, not just do. Yet the way we work… the endless back-to-back meetings, the round the clock Slack messages, constant Teams pings and onslaught of emails actually stops us from thinking at all.
So please, for your team’s sake and your own:
💭 Slow down.
💭 Breathe.
💭 Get clear on what actually matters — and let the rest go.
We can’t control the chaos out there. But we can choose not to add to it. The world’s not going to fall apart if you take a minute to think. But it might if you don’t. Clarity isn’t found when you’re rushing around. It’s found in the calm of a pause. And that’s where real leadership lives.
