When life in schools feels messy, unpredictable, or even overwhelming, educators are the ones who hold steady and bring direction. Chaos is inevitable in the classroom, in leadership, and in our personal lives. What matters is how we respond.
One of the key qualities a leader must possess
is the ability to detach from the chaos, mayhem,
and emotions in a situation and make good, clear
decisions based on what is actually happening.
— Jocko Willink
I read a unique word recently, and it's been quite intriguing to figure out how to incorporate it usefully into an encouragement message. The word is Shambolic.
As in...
... Our home life is shambolic the first few weeks of the school year as we all adjust.
... This new dress code has been implemented in a shambolic and difficult manner.
... The preparations for the homecoming festivities have been amusingly shambolic.
... My initial attempts to create lesson plans using AI were shambolic, but I did it.
Chaotic action is preferable
to orderly inaction.
— Will Rogers
Chaos varies in quality and disciplined leadership is needed to use it constructively.
-Creative Chaos can spark innovation, fresh ideas, and out-of-the-box thinking.
-Organized Chaos uses specific structure, rhythms, and rules to make it productive.
-Adaptive Chaos forces growth and resilience, progressively improving the results.
-Transitional Chaos occurs during shifts in culture, leadership, and/or major change.
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
— Isaiah 26:3
Every educator is a leader, and every leader is an educator.
We're well into a new era of education that demands the mastery to thrive in chaos, where astute planning and perfection give way to curiosity-driven trials and failures.
One person's chaos is another's canvas, so highly effective educators discipline their emotions, their words, and their influence to enable the wisest decisions available. We trust in who and what is eternally constant to find peace in certain uncertainty.
Embrace your role as a leader through chaos. When you master the chaos, you’ll be making the most of every opportunity with wise, decisive action.
