Bob Kreek has blogged about leadership and business on Leadership Pundit. Kreek was the founding President and CEO of Comedy Central – where he quickly transformed two disparate organizations and cultures into an extraordinary media success. He is a wiz at inspiring change and driving it to build powerful brands, market share, and growth.

Last Tuesday evening, Bob engaged the MBA students at Long Island University in a discussion about Comedy Central: The Management of Chaos.  Bob shared the outline of his remarks with me, which I’ve posted below. While we don’t have the examples he used, this short version gets to the heart of the subject.

Some of Bob’s key insights are:  1. ”My version [of chaos] exists when the world changes faster than people change. It brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth.”  2. You need to recognize chaos – here’s what to look for. 3. Whether chaos is good or bad depends on your ability to deal with it. But if it’s driven by some outside force, you need to manage it to your benefit. Here’s how.

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Long Island University MBA
Comedy Central: The Management of Chaos

Introduction
Bob Kreek, practical management expertise, particularly around start ups and companies in need of change.

This evening: Under the umbrella of Comedy Central: the Management of Chaos, I am going to touch upon the following:

• What do we mean by Chaos?
• How do you recognize it? (And you must recognize it)
• Is Chaos good or bad? Do you want to create it or kill it?
• How do you manage it? 

Body
What do we mean by Chaos?

There is science-based Chaos Theory and there is my version. 

Science-based Chaos theory is the study of nonlinear dynamics, where seemingly random events are actually (or supposedly) predictable from simple deterministic equations. It includes the “large output from small input” school. “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” Edward N. Lorenz, 1979.

My version exists when the world changes faster than people.  It brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth.

How do you recognize it?  -  And you must recognize it

• Broad perspective
• Recognize the uneasiness
• Seemingly conflicting goals
• Listen for excuses
• Listen for how others talk about you and your division

Is Chaos good or bad? Do you want to create it or kill it?

That depends on your ability to deal with it.

If it originates through an outside force, you need to manage it to your benefit. I’m mostly thinking about this situation in my remarks today.

But, you can create it yourself to accelerate change. You had just better be good. 

Using chaos theory as the sole model for change may be far too risky to get buy-in. The concept of uncertainty is not an appealing motive for change compared to many safer models of organizational change that entail less risk. By operating on the edge of chaos, organizations are forced to find new, creative ways to compete and stay ahead.

 How do you manage it?

• Recognize it.
• Define your goals and strategies. Make them up if you have to. Don’t allow it to be an excuse.
• Flatten the hierarchy.
• Listen.

Conclusion
Change is good. Recognize its onset and use the uncertainty it causes for the advancement of creativity.

Robert M. Kreek is President of Kappa Associates, International, where he leads new ventures, growth initiatives, and reinventions of companies poised for growth.