Outsmart Chaos 105: Find the Signal. Lead for Growth.
How great leaders rise above the noise of chaos.
Chaos can feel like a storm.
But great leaders know how to find the signal in the noise.
When everything’s loud—demands, deadlines, doubt, it’s easy to focus on what’s screaming the loudest. But clarity often comes from something quieter: perspective. Usually, the data reveals the way.
What Changed My Perspective
The other day, I analyzed a dataset to understand the seasonality in customer orders. To do this effectively, I had to factor out growth. And then I had to reverse it—to see growth, I had to remove the seasonal cycles.
That moment hit deeper than the data.
I realized that most of the times in my life when I’ve felt downcast or stuck, it was just a season. A short-term pattern. But in those moments, I never thought to look for growth. It wasn’t a factor. It wasn’t even considered.
I failed where many leaders do: I focused on the noise rather than the signal.
That moment showed me: chaos isn’t the enemy. Distraction is.
Seasonality: The Comfort of Routine
Seasonality is evident everywhere…annual slumps, predictable crunch times, and cycles of stress or disconnection. These patterns feel familiar. Safe, even.
But they’re not always helpful.
When we rely too heavily on what’s always been, we fail to see the bigger picture.
Data scientists remove seasonality to see what’s underneath. Leaders must do the same.
Growth: The Signal That Drives the Future
Growth is the deeper trend—the slow climb (or slow drift) happening under the surface. It shows up in sharper thinking, stronger teams, or bolder vision.
But here’s the challenge: growth is quiet. It hides behind urgency. It demands leadership with depth.
To lead for growth, you must train your eyes beyond today’s disruption.
How to Lead for Growth
Spot the Cycles
Name what repeats. Quarterly stress? Mid-year dips? Emotional ruts? Awareness creates margin.
Find the Trend
What long-term signals point to progress? Track the real metrics: engagement, innovation, trust.
Bet on Growth
Even when chaos screams for shortcuts, invest in the big picture. Train the team. Start the new thing.
Keep Adapting
Your environment shifts. So should your patterns. Review often. Stay responsive.
The Real Question
What season are you letting define your story?
And what growth are you failing to name?
Leadership in chaos means more than surviving noise.
It means building the habit of seeing what truly matters—and refusing to let short-term seasons steal long-term growth.