The Disorganized Leader

The Disorganized Leader—Why Your Chaos is Holding You (and Everyone Else) Back

Who you are, where you are, and how you show up—this is what shapes your life and leadership.

We don’t often think about it, but every interaction, every commitment (or lack thereof), and every habit we repeat reflects how we choose to show up in the world. Whether we like it or not, managing our Time, relationship times, and priorities directly influences the people around us.

The Disorganized Leader

Disorganization isn’t just about a cluttered desk or an inbox with 5,000 unread emails. It’s a leadership style. It’s a way of operating that creates chaos, frustration and missed opportunities. It shows up in a hundred small ways—how you handle communication, manage your Time, and how Timeshow up for the people who depend on you.

Signs You Might Be a Disorganized Leader:

• You start every phone call or meeting with, “I just wanted to check in real quick, but I have another meeting soon.” Translation? I don’t really have Time for you.
• You make casual plans with colleagues, clients, or friends (“Let’s get together soon”), but it never happens because you never follow through.
• You send requests for input, ideas, or help but never close the loop.
• Your team is constantly scrambling, missing deadlines, and playing catch-up—because they follow your example.

But here’s the real kicker—chances are, if you’re a disorganized leader, you’re also a disorganized person.

If you don’t believe me, take a personal audit:

• Are you constantly rushing out the door, forgetting something every single Time?
• Do you have projects you’ve started and abandoned in your personal life?
• If you have kids, do they bounce from activity to activity without finishing anything?
• Are you always the last to arrive at social gatherings, appointments, or personal commitments?
• Do you push things off to the last second and then make it everyone else’s problem?

And yet, when your team starts showing the same signs of disorganization, you reprimand or discipline them for it.

Think about that. You’re disciplining them for the behavior you modeled.

Leadership isn’t just about telling people what to do—it’s about setting the tone, the culture, and the example. If you’re inconsistent, your team will be inconsistent. If you’re last-minute, your team will scramble. And if you don’t respect Time, don’t be surprised when deadlines are missed and work is rushed.

“I Don’t Have Time” vs. “I Don’t Want To”

Lao Tzu once said, “Time is a creative thing. To say ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying ‘I don’t want to.’”

Let that sink in.

When we repeatedly say we don’t have time, what we’re really saying is, I didn’t prioritize this. And while time constraints are real, much of what we call “too busy” is a lack of discipline.

Not Everything is a Diagnosis—Some of It is Just a Habit

Now, before anyone dismisses this as a condition beyond their control—pause.

Not everything is a struggle that should be dismissed as a condition affecting focus and concentration. There are real diagnoses—such as ADHD, executive dysfunction, and other neurodivergent challenges—that deserve respect, care, and appropriate accommodations. But for many, disorganization is simply a habit that can be addressed with intention and discipline.

The danger comes when we default to labeling every instance of procrastination, forgetfulness, or missed deadlines as something beyond our control. That mindset keeps us stuck.

The good news? If something is a habit, it can be changed.

Breaking the Cycle & Leading With Intention

If any of this resonates with you, the answer isn’t to beat yourself up—it’s to do something about it.

• Start small. Pick one area of disorganization to improve—whether it’s better scheduling, clearer communication, or simply showing up on Time.
• Honor your time commitments. If you tell someone you’ll call them back, call them back. If you make plans, show up.
• Set the tone. Your team, your family, and the people around you will follow your lead. Show them what it looks like to lead with integrity, clarity, and respect.

So ask yourself:

Do you see yourself in this article?

If so, it’s Time to do something different.

If you’re ready to stop the cycle and lead with intention, let’s talk.

Let’s chat: Book Your Free Session

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