How Great Leaders Stay Grounded in Chaos: Who Are You When Everything’s on Fire?

Offer support when the flame is burning.

Crisis has a way of revealing character.

When everything is running smoothly, it’s easy to show up as the best version of yourself.

But when the pressure’s on, the emails pile up, and every conversation feels like it could combust—that’s when your true leadership style steps into the spotlight.

So let me ask you: Who are you when everything’s on fire?

A Leadership Test: What Happens When Everything Hits at Once?

Not long ago, I had one of those weeks.

The kind where your calendar is already overflowing—then a customer calls with an urgent issue.

A team member misses a key deadline.

An internal process fails—again.

And you’re still trying to lead, coach, and keep your own head above water.

In the span of 24 hours, I was:

• Putting out fires with a client who felt ignored

• Coaching a high-potential team member through a crisis of confidence

• Fielding backlash from a cross-functional change we implemented weeks earlier

  
  

And yet, my actual job—the strategic work I needed to move forward—was sitting untouched.

It would’ve been easy to lose it.

To vent. To blame. To shut down.

But instead, I paused and asked myself the question I now ask my coaching clients:

“What does this moment require from me as a leader?”

Not what do I feel like doing, but what’s actually needed here?

That question changed everything.

How to Lead Through Crisis Without Reacting

When everything’s on fire, reaction is easy.

Response takes discipline.

That day, I gave myself five minutes to vent privately—then grounded myself with a short walk before my next meeting. I reached out to the frustrated client with a personal call, not an email. I paused to listen before jumping to fix-it mode with my team. And I blocked time the next morning to tackle the strategic work I’d been putting off.

Did everything get solved instantly? Of course not.But I didn’t let the chaos dictate my presence.I led through it—with intention.

Coaching Insight: Lead With Presence—Not Panic

In coaching sessions, I hear it all the time:

“I was doing fine until everything blew up.”

"I snapped. That’s not who I want to be.”

“I’m usually more composed, but this week got the best of me.”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth: High-pressure moments don’t change who you are. They reveal where your leadership still has room to grow.

That’s not a failure. It’s feedback.

You’re not expected to be perfect.But you are responsible for how you show up. Especially when others are looking to you for stability, clarity, and direction.

Reflection Prompt: How Do You Respond Under Pressure?

This week, reflect on:

• How do I typically respond when things go sideways?

• What version of me shows up when the stakes are high?

• What helps me stay grounded under pressure?

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When everything’s on fire, your presence is the extinguisher.

Not your panic. Not your over-functioning. Not your silence.

Your presence.

And when you lead from that place—you become the calm in the chaos.

If you’re stepping into leadership or navigating resistance in your role, you might also like Stop Waiting, Start Leading and How to Lead Through Tension: Becoming the Bridge Between Friction and Flow.

Who are you when everything’s on fire? If you’ve been tested lately, I’d love to hear how you stayed grounded—or what you learned in the aftermath. Drop a comment or share this with a leader you admire.