When things are going wrong and work feels chaotic, it seems obvious that the team or company needs to try something new. But committing to a new direction during times of change can feel overwhelming and risky. So actively encourage small experiments, test runs, or pilot programs instead. These may be more fruitful ways to surface fresh ideas while alleviating people’s anxiety about the future.

For example, if your team needs more space in their days to adapt to all the changes coming their way, brainstorm a number of experiments to try to add hours (and energy) back to all of their schedules. This might include canceling a weekly status meeting, using countdown timers in scheduled meetings to keep people from running over, or pausing efforts on a weekly report to test if it can be done less frequently. .

Make the experiments small, specific, and time-bound to help disrupt the current pattern of thinking. They will give your team much-needed encouragement to be curious and examine different perspectives, even amidst what feels like chaos. Tiny changes could make a huge difference.
This tip is adapted from “How to Speak Confidently to Your Team During Chaotic Times,” by Darcy Eikenberg
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