Leading in Chaotic Times — S1E5 of The Bear

NOTE: Spoilers ahead for The Bear

This is part of a continuing series gleaning leadership lessons and organizational development insights from the Disney series, The Bear.

S1E5 of The Bear follows several different storylines, including a power outage that impairs the ability of the restaurant staff to do anything, an exploding toilet that jeopardizes the ability of the restaurant to open for lunch service, and important errors made by the staff that impact the whole business. All of these problems cause potential distress for the entire crew, yet thanks to Carmy’s calmness and Sydney’s resourcefulness, both key leadership characteristics for resilience in chaotic times, the team is able to persevere and grow even stronger.

Marcus inadvertently triggers a blown fuse for the entire restaurant when he overloads the industrial mixer because he’s behind on his timing for the cakes. While Marcus has been learning about fermenting yeast for his side passion in specialty baking, he realizes that he’s behind time on his core function of the cakes. To try to make up time, he tries to push the process, and ends up causing massive problems for everyone. A kitchen can’t perform without power.

Fortunately, Sydney demonstrates her resourcefulness, experience gleaned from her years of running her own catering business out of her garage. Due to her quick thinking, she is able to pivot the entire team to create a makeshift outdoor barbeque, using concrete blocks from the construction site across the road, for the lunch service. When Carmy sees this, Carmy asks Sydney to explain what’s going on, which she does, and then Carmy rolls with it. He now trusts her, sees that everything is working well in her capable hands, and moves on to look after other business. Sydney by this point has also earned trust from the team, and they work with her to create an excellent new lunch experience for their customers, who compliment the food.

This also demonstrates how the kitchen team, which was previously fractious and resistant, come together under Sydney’s leadership. This time, when Carmy assesses the situation and then leaves, there is no question that Sydney is clearly in charge. In an earlier episode, Carmy had left partway through a meeting that he charged Sydney to run, and it was seen as an abdication of his leadership and that the leadership team was unstable. Now his departure doesn’t even register a blip on anyone’s radar, as they all supportively and effectively work together to build the barbeque, cook the lunches, and serve their customers. In these challenging times, the team’s bonds are forged even more strongly.

Eventually, Marcus admits his mistake to Carmy, explaining that he tried to rush, made an error in judgement, and promises that it won’t happen again. Carmy assures him that it will happen again, and shares his own experience accidentally setting a large kitchen fire. They both recognize that working in a high-performing kitchen is going to be inherently stressful, anxiety-ridden, and chaotic. This is the work that they have signed up for, and there will always be errors and lessons. With Carmy holding a space of empathy and acceptance, Marcus is able to move on and get back to work. At the end of the episode, the power comes back on in the restaurant and the lights, literally and metaphorically, come on for everyone.

In the unpredictable world of restaurant kitchens (and bathrooms!), where chaos can strike in unexpected forms, the power of leadership becomes most evident. S1E5 of The Bear depicts a vivid picture of the challenges faced by the team, however, through the chaos, the true leadership qualities of Carmy and Sydney shine: resilience, resourcefulness, and, notably, a calm demeanor. As the adage goes, “keep your head when all about you are losing theirs.” Carmy’s ability to maintain composure, even in the face of unforeseen challenges, becomes the guiding force that allows the team to not only survive but to thrive. In these turbulent moments, the strength of leadership lies not just in real-time problem-solving but in the ability to inspire and maintain a sense of stability and cohesiveness. It’s a lesson for leaders in any industry — navigating chaos with grace and composure not only ensures a smoother course through challenges but also fosters a resilient and cohesive team.

Reflection: As I continue to write this series, it’s apparent that not every episode of The Bear will have the same level of rich leadership and organizational development lessons or insights. Some, like my favourite feedback conversation , will spark many ideas for me (and hopefully my readers). Others may not have quite the same robustness. However, I’m committed to writing about each episode (at least in the first season) as an experiment in consistency. Let’s see how that goes. Thanks for following along and sharing your own ideas!