"Great leaders don’t wait for chaos to strike - they anticipate it,
prepare for it and turn it into opportunity."
A few years ago, I was doing an early morning run along the “strand” (a 22-mile paved biking, hiking, running, rollerblading path along the beach from Santa Monica to Palos Verdes) with of friend of mine that was at the time a partner with a large private equity firm.
I do not remember the specifics of a segment of our conversation that morning, but the response from my friend was “Jim, we never let a good crisis to waste.” It’s a bit harsh perhaps, but it’s definitely the ethos of the private equity community writ large and provides context for today’s Master of Chaos Segment 1.
In an ever-changing business world, chaos is inevitable. But within every disruption lies the seed of opportunity. This is where the concept of a "Playmaker Mindset" becomes essential.
Playmakers don't just react to chaos; they anticipate it, preparing themselves and their organizations to adapt and thrive. This approach requires a shift from viewing chaos as a threat to seeing it as an ally.
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What is a Playmaker? In sports, a playmaker is the go-to player. A playmaker is the player who consistently “reads” the game. The whole team relies on the playmaker for their excellent tactical and strategic awareness. The playmaker successfully maneuvers everyone into position to score. Playmakers create pivotal results in sports. They create the winning conditions. They are crucial to a team’s success. And like a playmaker in sports, you want to be crucial to your own success and to the success of your team and organization. |
Chaos in business arises from various sources: market shifts, technological advances, internal inefficiencies, external disruptions and more. These forces challenge even the most robust organizations.
An ocean tsunami serves as a metaphor for the unrelenting waves of business turbulence. Like a tsunami, business chaos can overwhelm those unprepared. However, those who recognize early warning signs can navigate these disruptions effectively.
Proactive anticipation of chaos prevents reactive decision-making resulting in missed opportunities. Playmakers develop their "organizational radar" to detect subtle changes that could escalate into a full-blown crisis.
This anticipatory mindset enables you and your team to align resources, prioritize tasks, and prepare for potential challenges, transforming uncertainty into calculated opportunities.
Also See my posts regarding "What If" scenarios:
The Art of Scenario Analysis
My Boeing 737 Max MCAS Software Epiphany
Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River exemplifies the Playmaker Mindset. With both engines disabled, Sully assessed the situation, rejected standard options, and made a decisive choice to save all 155 passengers. His success was not luck but the result of decades of preparation, training, and the ability to anticipate the consequences of every action.
With both engines disabled, Sully assessed the situation, rejected standard options, and made a decisive choice to save all 155 passengers. His success was not luck but the result of decades of preparation, training, and the ability to anticipate the consequences of every action.
By adopting the Playmaker mindset, business and IT professionals can position themselves as indispensable assets to their organizations. Anticipating chaos demonstrates foresight, initiative, and leadership—qualities that earn respect and trust.
Also see my post: Cultivating a Proactive Mindset
Whether you're a business analyst identifying business requirements or process improvement opportunities, a team lead mitigating risks, or a manager executing initiatives to align strategy with operations, the ability to foresee and prepare for disruptions will set you apart.
Transform chaos into a steppingstone for success by developing the mindset of a Playmaker. Be proactive - anticipate, adapt, and lead—because in business, it's not about surviving the storm but mastering the chaos of the storm to create opportunities for you, your team and your organization.
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Start your journey to becoming a Playmaker and advancing your career by applying the concepts and action steps presented in this segment to create massive value for your customers (internal and external), team and organization.
Very Best - James Proctor
Next Segment In The Series
Wave 1 | Segment 2
The Butterfly Effect in Business:
How Small Changes Lead to Significant Business Impacts
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Wave 1 Live Coaching Session
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The Wave 1 live coaching session is planned for the end of May 2025. Watch your inbox for your personal invite.
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