Last week I wrote about consistency – that quiet, unglamorous force that compounds credibility. But what about the weeks when consistency feels impossible? When chaos arrives and throws your rhythm completely off?

That’s where the truth about leadership reveals itself.

Because chaos isn’t just a disruption – it’s a mirror.

It reflects what’s working, what’s not, and how we respond when things don’t go to plan.

I’m writing this still not back to 100% (let’s call it 92.5% 😉). The last few weeks have been a struggle. I wasn’t feeling great even before Friday, but I kept ploughing ahead, hoping it would pass. Then Friday hit, and that was it – wiped out. The weekend that’s usually a mix of rest, reflection, and a bit of catch-up became full recovery.

I had things I wanted to do – conversations to follow up on, plans to refine, progress to make – but none of it happened. I managed the bare minimum, which still felt like too much. And yet, I pushed through, because I care. Because when you’re building something – in my case, growing Relentica – it’s hard to stop.

But sometimes you have to.

When the Plan Unravels

I’m a planner by nature. I work best when things are structured, purposeful, and aligned to a wider goal. Relentica’s business development plan isn’t just about sales or visibility – it’s about connection, consistency, and credibility. That means daily actions, weekly focus, and long-term alignment.

But in the middle of all that structure, life happens. Energy dips. Health takes a hit. Or you simply hit a wall.

That’s when chaos steps in.

And here’s the thing – chaos isn’t always bad. It forces honesty. It strips away the illusion of control and shows you what truly matters. It exposes the gaps in your habits, your priorities, and sometimes even your expectations.

When the plan unravels, you see what’s really driving you – the ego, the urgency, or the intent.

Leadership in the Mess

It’s easy to talk about leadership when things are running smoothly. When you’re on top of your calendar, hitting your goals, and finding time to reflect. But that’s not where growth happens.

Leadership reveals itself in the mess. When the inbox is full, the to-do list is overwhelming, and your energy is running on empty. When you’re not performing at your best but still trying to hold yourself to impossible standards.

The last few weeks have been like that for me. My task list has over fifty overdue items. Every reminder, notification, and open tab is screaming for attention. And as the list grows, so does that quiet sense of guilt – the feeling that I’m falling behind.

It’s a familiar feeling to many leaders – that internal narrative of “I should be doing more.”

But the truth is, leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about knowing when to stop, reassess, and start again with intent.

Reframing Chaos

When you feel overwhelmed, it’s tempting to label it as failure – as if chaos means you’ve lost control. But chaos can also be a sign that you’re stretching, growing, experimenting, or simply human.

In those moments, the question isn’t “How do I fix this?” but “What is this teaching me?”

For me, it’s a reminder that even the most structured systems need space to breathe. That focus is important, but so is recovery. And that good leadership includes knowing your limits.

The truth is, chaos doesn’t create weakness – it exposes it. And that exposure is valuable, because it gives you the opportunity to strengthen the right things.

Sometimes you don’t need to fix the chaos. You just need to see it clearly, acknowledge it, and adjust.

The Role of People (and Perspective)

When you’re a leader, it’s easy to forget you’re not doing this alone. That was my reminder this week. Thankfully, I had Hayley – my voice of reason – who simply said, “You’re doing too much. You’re not well. Slow down. Do what you’ve committed to, then stop.”

It was simple advice. But like most good advice, it hit hard because it was true.

We all need that external voice sometimes – someone to remind us that slowing down isn’t giving up, and rest isn’t weakness.

Leadership doesn’t mean pushing through at all costs. It means pacing yourself for the marathon, not the sprint. It’s about managing what you can, planning what you can, and letting go of what you can’t.

Nobody ends the week with an empty inbox. But strong leaders know which emails matter most.

From Chaos to Clarity

When you’re in the middle of chaos, it’s easy to lose perspective. But clarity often comes after the storm, when you start to pick up the pieces and realise that things weren’t falling apart – they were shifting.

Soon I’ll replan. I’ll prioritise the right things and get back into rhythm. The overdue list will shrink, slowly but surely. That’s what consistency looks like – not perfection, but persistence.

This is what leadership looks like too. Not being in control all the time, but being conscious when you’re not.

The truth about leadership is that it’s easy to lead when everything’s working. The real test is when it’s not. When chaos hits, when you’re unwell, when you’re juggling too much – that’s when your values, priorities, and resilience show up (or don’t).

And that’s okay. Because chaos doesn’t mean failure. It’s just feedback. It’s a pause, not an ending.

Final Thought

This experience has reminded me that leadership isn’t just about the pace you set when everything’s going right – it’s about how you respond when it isn’t.

Chaos reveals the truth about your leadership: your patience, your adaptability, your self-awareness, and your humanity.

So next time you feel like you’re losing grip, remember – you’re not failing. You’re just learning. The goal isn’t to eliminate chaos, it’s to understand it.

Don’t beat yourself up. Chaos doesn’t define you – how you respond does. Slow down, recalibrate, and keep going – that’s where real leadership lives.