The True Nature of Disorder: Beyond Chaos
Disorder is that exquisite state of uncertainty where you’re not even sure what kind of problem you have. Is it a technical glitch? A market shift? A rogue squirrel in the server room? You don’t know the cause, the effect, or even the damn category. It’s the ultimate sense-making challenge because there’s no clear sense to make. You’re adrift in a sea of “huh?”
Imagine a chess game where the pieces keep changing mid-move, the board occasionally flips, and sometimes, a piece just… disappears. That’s disorder. It’s not just that the rules are ungraspable or that the outcome is unpredictable. It’s that you don’t even know what game you’re playing anymore. As the late, great Karl Weick might have observed, it’s a situation where the environment is so equivocal that even defining the problem becomes a monumental task. The temptation is to wait, to gather more data, to find the perfect analytical tool. But in disorder, the data itself is a mirage.
The Peril of Paralysis: When Doing Nothing is the Worst Move
The natural, albeit often disastrous, human response to disorder is paralysis. We freeze, we over-analyze, we convene committees to discuss the lack of data, and then we convene more committees to discuss the committees. We search for the elusive “right answer” or the “perfect plan” in a landscape where neither exists. It’s like trying to find a specific needle in a haystack when you’re not even sure if it’s a needle, a haystack, or a particularly aggressive badger that just ate your map.
This paralysis, while feeling safe, is actively detrimental. Every moment spent waiting for clarity that won’t arrive is a moment lost to potential learning and adaptation. It’s the leadership equivalent of standing still in quicksand, hoping it will magically solidify. Spoiler alert: it won’t.
Activation: The True Leadership Impulse in the Void
The fundamental leadership impulse in the face of disorder isn’t analysis, nor is it grand strategy: It’s activation.
Activation, in this context, is the deliberate act of initiating and sustaining intentional effort, even when the path forward is a blurry mess. It’s not flailing wildly; it’s a disciplined commitment to movement. Think of it less as a sprint to a known finish line and more like a blindfolded dance in a minefield. You move, carefully but confident, to learn where the mines aren’t. It’s about creating your own momentum, generating signals in the noise, and refusing to be a passive victim of uncertainty.
Why does activation work? Because movement generates data. When you’re in disorder, the map is blank. You can stare at it all day, but it won’t fill itself in. You have to move to draw the lines. This is where the magic of “micro-moves” comes in.
Wiggle Your Way: Actionable Micro-Moves for Leaders
To “wiggle your way” towards clarity, consider these actionable micro-moves:
The “Next Smallest Step” Principle
Forget the grand strategic overhaul. What’s the absolute smallest, most reversible action you can take right now? Can you make one phone call? Send one email? Test one tiny assumption? These aren’t about solving the problem, but about generating any new information. The goal is to create a ripple, however small, that might reveal something about the water you’re in.
Probe, Don’t Predict
Instead of trying to predict the future, design small, low-stakes “probes.” Launch a minimal viable product, run a small pilot, or conduct a quick, targeted experiment. Observe the results, no matter how small, and let them inform your next micro-move. This isn’t about success or failure, it’s about learning. Each probe is a question asked of the environment, and even a “no” answer tells you something valuable.
Embrace the “Good Enough for Now”
Perfection is the enemy of progress, especially in disorder. Acknowledge that your initial moves will be imperfect, possibly even a bit awkward. The goal is not to be right, but to be less wrong with each iteration. Ship the 80% solution; the remaining 20% will reveal itself as you move, and you’ll course-correct along the way. Your first step won’t be perfect, but it will be a step.
Diversify Your Wiggle
Don’t just wiggle in one direction. Engage diverse perspectives. Talk to people outside your usual echo chamber… the junior analyst, the seasoned veteran in another industry, even your most cynical colleague. The more varied the inputs, the more likely you are to stumble upon a pattern or a new angle you hadn’t considered. A fresh pair of eyes might spot the badger, or at least tell you it’s not a squirrel.
Measure the Murk (and the Movement)
While you don’t have clear KPIs for disorder, you can measure the reduction of uncertainty. Are you learning anything new? Are small pockets of clarity emerging? Are you able to categorize the problem a little better than yesterday? Celebrate these small gains in understanding, and track the velocity of your micro-moves. The more you move, the more you learn.
Leading through disorder isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the courage to make consistent, context-aware micro-moves and to wiggle your way towards clarity. So, the next time you find yourself staring into the void, unsure of your next move, remember: don’t just stand there, wiggle. Your team and your sanity will thank you.