Every leader I talk to right now says the same thing: “I’m overwhelmed.”
And no wonder. AI disruption. Relentless cost pressures. Market volatility. Hybrid work dysfunction. Global uncertainty. Leading in 2025 is like standing in a cyclone.
The mistake leaders make is thinking they can “wait it out.” That things will calm down, markets will recover, clarity will return. But here’s the reality: the storm isn’t stopping.
What you can do is design your team to be the calm centre of it.
I once worked with a leadership team who described their work as “like walking through molasses.” Every decision dragged. Meetings revisited the same issues. Energy was low.
After redesigning their team around the six proven conditions for effectiveness, the difference was immediate. Suddenly, they were:
- Anticipating challenges instead of reacting.
- Making faster, stickier decisions.
- Supporting each other instead of burning out.
- Exceeding stakeholder expectations, not just meeting them.
It was still chaotic outside. But inside, they had flow.
Research by Hackman and Wageman shows that team effectiveness isn’t random. It’s designable. The 6 Team Conditions framework explains why some teams thrive in turbulence while others collapse under it:
- Real Team: Clear boundaries and interdependence.
- Compelling Purpose: A goal that matters and motivates.
- Right People: Skills and perspectives to deliver.
- Sound Structure: Roles, norms, and processes that work.
- Supportive Context: Resources, data, recognition.
- Team Coaching: Guidance at the right time.
When these are in place, leaders experience what I call “calm in the cyclone.” It feels like time slows down. Decisions get easier. Delegation is obvious. Confidence rises
If you’re waiting for external conditions to settle before your team can perform, you’ll be waiting forever. In the meantime, your best people burn out, disengage, or leave.
The only lever you control is team design. That’s where the calm comes from.
If your leadership team feels like molasses and you’re overwhelmed by the cyclone, let’s fix it.
👉 Book a Team Health Check and get a science-backed map of your team’s conditions. We’ll show you exactly how to move from firefighting to flow.
Chaos isn’t stopping. But your team can become the calm inside it.
