We criticize leadership incompetence during times of crisis, but in this article, I explore how some leaders use chaos as a strategy to gain power
In leadership, chaos is often seen as a failure—a lack of competence or an inability to maintain order. But what if chaos isn’t a sign of weakness, but a deliberate strategy? Over time, it becomes evident that some leaders intentionally allow, or even perpetuate, disorder for their own benefit. This isn’t about incompetence; it’s a calculated effort to consolidate power, divert attention, and gain control.
I had asked this question to my spiritual mentor many times during the Biden Administration’s handling of the Black Lives Matter riots in Seattle (2020) and the seeming inaction on pressing issues like the illegal migrant crisis, erasing college debt, or allowing rampant drug consumption. In California, policies permitting thefts below $900 to go uncontested while the police turned a blind eye raised similar concerns. Why were these crises allowed to fester instead of being addressed?
My mentor offered an interesting perspective. He had been a successful businessman in Paris, managing millions of dollars in turnover, and had done business with countries behind the Iron Curtain. He said he’d learned that chaos helps leaders secure more power and control. Emergencies allow them to invoke sweeping powers with little oversight. He also pointed out that businesses often prefer working with authoritarian regimes because decisions rest with one individual. Convincing one person can lead to lucrative contracts and vast profits, especially during emergencies.
Chaos as a strategy refers to the intentional creation or perpetuation of disorder to serve specific goals. Leaders who use this tactic focus on overwhelming the public with instability, preventing organized dissent, and keeping citizens reliant on their leadership. Instead of solving crises, they let them escalate, ensuring their role as both the architect of the problem and its “savior.”
When chaos dominates the headlines, it’s easy to attribute it to mismanagement. However, certain leaders thrive on disorder. Their seeming inability to act is often a deliberate choice to manipulate circumstances for personal or political gain.
By allowing chaos to unfold, leaders create a cycle of dependency: they control the narrative, consolidate resources, and present themselves as the only ones capable of addressing the crisis.
This dynamic isn’t just seen in leadership—it can happen in personal relationships as well. Narcissistic partners often create an atmosphere of chaos and confusion, keeping their loved ones emotionally off-balance feeling guilty and ashamed. By criticizing, manipulating, gaslighting or isolating their partner, they gradually weaken their confidence and make them doubt their own decisions.
Over time, this leads to a loss of independence, where the narcissist becomes the only source of validation or support. The partner starts to feel trapped, believing they can’t cope without the narcissist. This cycle of dependency is carefully crafted to maintain control and dominance in the relationship.
Chaos as a strategy provides several advantages:
A recent example of chaos as a strategy is evident in California Governor Gavin Newsom’s handling of wildfires. Year after year, wildfires ravage California, exacerbated by climate change and decades of inadequate forest management. Despite ample opportunities to invest in preventive measures—such as controlled burns and better forest management—progress has been limited.
In 2020, the Trump administration proposed measures to enhance California's water infrastructure, including optimizing water delivery and increasing species protection in the Central Valley. These recommendations aimed to improve water management and address environmental concerns. Additionally, California voters approved Proposition 4 in November 2024, authorizing $10 billion in bonds for environmental projects, with about $2 billion allocated toward protecting drinking water.
Despite these federal suggestions and public support for enhanced water infrastructure, Governor Gavin Newsom's administration has faced criticism for not fully implementing these strategies. Critics argue that the state's outdated water systems and inadequate forestry management have exacerbated issues like wildfires and water shortages. Reports indicate that during critical times, reservoirs were not utilized effectively, impacting firefighting efforts and water availability.
This perceived inaction has drawn scrutiny, with some suggesting that even individuals with basic administrative skills could have managed the situation more effectively. For more context, you can explore additional perspectives on this issue: Is Donald Trump right to blame Gavin Newsom for the LA fires?, California Gov. Newsom tries to weasel out of blame with reservoir claim - is immediately called out, and Newsom hits back at Trump over wildfire blame game, urges him to visit LA.
Rather than proactively addressing the issue, Newsom has often highlighted factors outside his control, such as climate change and federal inaction. This narrative shifts the focus away from his administration’s shortcomings. Meanwhile, the recurring crises allow him to control significant resources, request additional funding, and maintain a narrative of being the leader guiding Californians through unparalleled challenges.
In the business world, the WeWork story is a great example of how chaos can be used as a strategy. Adam Neumann, the co-founder and former CEO of WeWork, created an environment full of confusion, over-the-top growth plans, and lack of direction. This chaos made the company seem exciting at first but eventually led to its collapse and Neumann’s removal as CEO.
Neumann was able to keep control by creating a sense of urgency and excitement, even as the company’s financial problems grew. His approach—over-promising and not delivering—kept investors and employees waiting for the next big idea to save the company. This chaos distracted everyone from the real issues, like unsustainable business practices and mounting losses.
Despite the company’s struggles, Neumann benefited greatly from the chaos he created. Here’s how:
How Adam Neumann Benefited from the Chaos:
Just like political leaders who use chaos to stay in power, Neumann’s leadership didn’t focus on fixing the real problems. Instead, he made himself seem like a visionary, while ignoring the company’s internal issues. This created a situation where the company was too chaotic to make smart decisions until it was too late.
While chaos as a strategy may yield short-term benefits for leaders, it comes at a high cost to citizens. Lives are disrupted, trust erodes, and long-term solutions are sacrificed for short-term power plays. This approach undermines not only public confidence but also societal progress.
As a business owner or senior leader, you are entrusted with a sacred responsibility—by the divine, your company, shareholders, customers, and the board. True leadership goes beyond ego; it’s about being a steward of trust, empowerment, and prosperity for all stakeholders.
Just like the great leaders of history—such as the Doge of Venice, the Egyptian Pharaohs, the Kings of Udaipur, and the Rama Dynasty of Bangkok—leadership is not ownership but trusteeship. These leaders understood their duty to serve and protect the prosperity of their people, guiding with wisdom and integrity.
To learn more about how leadership as trusteeship can transform your approach, read the article "Leadership as Trusteeship", with examples from history that show how leaders can lead with purpose and stewardship.
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Chaos as a strategy reveals a darker side of leadership. It’s not always about a leader’s inability to manage crises but often about their deliberate choice to use disorder to secure power and control. Recognizing this tactic is critical in holding leaders accountable—not just for their promises to restore order, but for their role in perpetuating the chaos in the first place.
True leadership lies in creating stability, transparency, and proactive solutions—not in exploiting crises for personal or political gain.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe chaos can ever be justified as a leadership strategy, or is it inherently unethical? Let me know in the comments.
Categories: : Leadership