How can you manage people and organizations when everything is uncertain and chaotic?

 Management is the art and science of making people work together to achieve a common goal. It is essential because it helps organizations, such as businesses, governments, or schools, to cope with uncertainty and complexity in what they do. You can’t eliminate uncertainty and complexity, but you can reduce them and manage them. You can do that by being flexible and adaptable. You can do that by learning from the past, understanding the present, and anticipating the future. You can do that by setting clear objectives, measuring results, and giving feedback.

But what if the past is irrelevant, the present is confusing, and the future is unpredictable? What if the objectives are unrealistic, the results are unreliable, and the feedback is useless?

Well, then you have to change them. You have to be creative and innovative. You have to generate new ideas and solutions. You have to experiment and test. You have to learn from mistakes and improve yourself.  You have to be persistent and resilient. You have to overcome obstacles and challenges. You have to seek opportunities and advantages. You have to achieve excellence and quality.  You have to be realistic and pragmatic. You have to accept your limitations and constraints. You have to balance your needs and resources. You have to satisfy your customers and stakeholders.

But what if your assumptions are wrong, your expectations are low, and your limitations are many? What if your needs are unmet, your resources are depleted, and your customers are unhappy?

Well, then you have a problem. You have to admit your failure and responsibility. You have to seek help and advice. You have to apologize and compensate. You have to correct your actions and decisions.

But what if your failure is irreversible, your responsibility is unbearable, and your help is unavailable? What if your apology is rejected, your compensation is insufficient, and your correction is too late?

Well, then you have a crisis. You have to face the consequences and implications of your actions and decisions. You have to deal with the losses and damages that you have caused or suffered. You have to learn from the experience and move on.

But what if the consequences are disastrous, the implications are dire, and the losses are irrecoverable? What if the experience is traumatic and the moving on is impossible?

Well, then you have a tragedy. You have to cope with the emotions and feelings that you have or face. You have to seek support and comfort from others who care or understand. You have to find meaning and purpose in your life.

Maybe management is not so easy or fun after all. Management is not a game or a hobby. It is a serious and challenging profession that requires knowledge, skills, attitude, values, vision, mission, passion, discipline, integrity, courage, wisdom, compassion…and more.