SUSTAINABILITY IN A CHAOTIC ENVIRONMENT by S CHAKRABORTY

Order generally was a product of human activity. Chaos existed as a raw material from which to create order – FRANK HERBERT

Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are going in this ocean of chaos, it has been the authorities — the political, the religious, the educational authorities — who attempted to comfort us by giving us order, rules, regulations, informing — forming in our minds — their view of reality. To think for yourself you must question authority and learn how to put yourself in a state of vulnerable open-mindedness, chaotic, confused vulnerability to inform yourself.

Starting a company is like the start of a fresh budding romance. The initiative to start is an exciting endeavor. Excitement and the feeling of creating something new is no different from a woman who has been conveyed the news of her motherhood. Everything is shiny and new. People join you with the promise of romance, adventure and the feeling of creating something new. The ones who join you believe they’re changing the world, and you’re convinced you’re leading the charge.

How to Bring Order in a Chaotic Work Environment? In a new set up or a start-up there is bound to be a degree of craziness and chaos in everything you see. This happens, especially, if you come from a very large and organized company. If your small business or a startup operates in an environment of chaos, you have to get a handle on it, but not at the moment. It is no use fighting against thunder. Just let loose and lie low and ride with the wave and enjoy, life’s bountiful show of disorder. You may look at the situation and feel like throwing up your hands, but you actually can impose order. With patience and taking one step at a time.

In chaos systems, one of the challenges then is to determine what is random, or chaotic, and what is meaningful. One of the hard things about being in a startup in this state of chaos is to actually figure out what course of action leads to randomness or instead leads to signal to build upon and grow into and out from. In short, the difficulty is how to decide what to do.

Humanity thrives on the premise that order prevails as a result of deliberate intentions hence our constant urge to be its de facto custodians. However, order predates human existence and is a preserve for a higher power. The defiance of this natural law, though providing a short-term solution has catastrophic consequences in the long term. It is without saying that you do not mess with Mother Nature; advise which is to be ignored as owner’s peril.

A startup from the pocket size diary or on a hurriedly sketched napkin, the plan is bound to be chaotic and crazy. Forget the term organized!  You may have an office or even have to start up from your drawing room or for the matter garage. This is bound to attract more and more elements of madness, considering there is nothing officious about the whole set up. After all temporary hold up all work! It’s not permanent. From time to time, you could have your mother or spouse peep in and ask you to get the grocery or fix the fuse. Or feed the baby! Can you imagine a future company founder repairing the fuse or feeding the baby? So everyone who is a part of the new set up starts doing small chores for the family.

For even in chaos and turmoil, order will always prevail buttressing the proposition that order exists in disorder. All living organisms are guided by unwritten laws, which provide guidance and natural order even for the animals in the jungle. Even in its unsteady chaotic state if there is unflinching focus, there is method to the madness. It is an apparent state of order.  It is this order that prevents self-harm and obliteration of our entire race thereby protecting us from extinction.

Organized chaos can be summarized as follow:

1. Settle for more by considering less.

2. Focus on outcomes rather than processes.

3. There is no universal order.

4. There is order in disorder.

Start by eliminating the chaos in your outlook. Organize what you see in your mind, and then start taking action that will bring that organization to fruition. Follow orderly steps, and the chaos will dissipate.

1. List all of the demands being made in the workplace, including from customers, management, deadlines, employee needs, sales and production department demands and those imposed by software and other systems. Next to each demand, write the business benefit it offers and also note the cost of the demand. Hone your list down to those essential demands that actually help the business function better, and set aside the rest temporarily.

2. Write down your business objectives. These are the short-term achievements you would like to reach on your way to your long-term goals. This list should be fairly short -- three to five items. If the list is not short, that is the source of your chaos. Whittle it down. Once you have a short list, place it next to your list of demands.

3. Match up demands with objectives. Highlight or underline the demands in the workplace that actually contribute to reaching your objectives. This will further reduce the demands list.

4. Prioritize the demands, ranking them with a number scale. Rewrite the list with the demands placed in order. This is the core set of demands you will begin to address amid the workplace chaos.

5. Share the list. Let your employees know that you expect the demands at the top of the list to take priority. Assure your employees that the remaining demands will be addressed once you see that essential tasks are handled.

6. Prioritize the back burner demands. Keep your promise to employees to address additional demands that are not on your current priority list. Decide when you can begin to meet those demands, and let your employees and departments know your time schedule. This will lower stress and chaos in your business.

Remember, it is the chaos and disorder by an enormous blast in the cosmos, is what created the earth. We Indians have forever lived and sustained in chaos. Our nation is a vibrant nation because of the chaos that exists within. We have sustained and together we shall sustain in the din, hustle and bustle, noise, likes & dislikes, protest, terrorism, anarchy, riots, diversity, variations, we stand united as one- India. We have endures and together we shall endure the bursts of energy from within and around and create, focus and sustain.

Remember : Confusion will be my Epitaph ~ Emerson Lake Palmer