On May 8, 2025, Gauteng Women In Insurance (GWII) hosted a thought-provoking Leaderwalk session on Managing Chaos and Order at The Venue Green Park in Sandton. The event was centred around the powerful insights shared by our distinguished speaker, Huntley Smith, a Change Architect, management consultant, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
Huntley led us through an engaging exploration of how chaotic and ordered environments impact both our external worlds and internal decisions. His keynote addressed the delicate balance between these forces and provided actionable strategies for understanding and leveraging chaos and order as catalysts for growth.
The balance between chaos and order
The core message of Huntley’s talk revolved around understanding the distinction between chaos and order. “Recognising this difference enables us to effectively manage ourselves, our teams, and our staff,” Huntley explained.
According to Huntley, the ability to distinguish between distress (negative stress) and eustress (positive stress) plays a crucial role in guiding individuals from a state of ignorance to competence, and ultimately to mastery. This distinction, he noted, is key to unlocking potential and driving progress, both personally and within teams. Understanding how chaos and order affect us enables individuals to harness both in a way that leads to growth.
In his explanation, Huntley delved into how stress, when managed properly, could serve as a developmental tool. He emphasised the importance of viewing both chaos and order not just as opposing forces but as catalysts for growth. By understanding these dynamics, individuals and teams can more effectively navigate the challenges they face, making the most of stressful situations while avoiding being overwhelmed by them.
Key takeaways
Huntley’s talk focused on two main takeaways that he wanted the audience to remember. The first takeaway emphasised the importance of recognising and managing chaos before introducing additional projects or tasks. “There’s a necessary process to follow to transition from chaos to order,” he noted. This was particularly relevant in leadership settings, where a sudden influx of responsibilities or challenges can overwhelm teams if not managed properly.
The second key takeaway was the distinction between external chaos and internal, conscious chaos. External chaos, Huntley explained, is often imposed on individuals and can be described as distress. On the other hand, internal chaos is the stress that individuals consciously decide to embrace - what he termed eustress. Huntley encouraged attendees to embrace this internal chaos as a positive force that helps them grow and improve. “It’s a positive thing when individuals consciously decide to embrace states of stress,” he said.
Recognising these two types of chaos and how they affect teams and individuals is essential in managing both environments effectively.
Real-world example: onboarding new sales staff
To illustrate the balance between chaos and order, Huntley shared a real-world example from the insurance industry. “In the insurance industry, a relevant example is the onboarding of new sales staff,” he shared. When new employees are placed under immediate pressure with unattainable targets, they can quickly fall into a state of external chaos or distress. This pressure can overwhelm them and lead to negative outcomes, such as burnout or decreased morale.
Instead, Huntley suggested a better approach: setting achievable targets that allow the new hire to build confidence and experience the positive reinforcement of reaching goals. “A better approach involves setting achievable targets that allow the individual to build confidence and experience the positive reinforcement of reaching goals,” he explained. This transition from chaos to order helps employees feel more engaged and competent, setting them up for long-term success in their roles.
Applying chaos and order cycles in onboarding
One of the most practical pieces of advice Huntley provided was to be mindful of the cycles of chaos and order when onboarding new staff. “New hires progress from unawareness to competence and then to mastery, experiencing cycles of chaos and order along the way,” he explained. This cycle is crucial for effective development, and managers need to ensure that their onboarding processes account for this natural progression.
He encouraged leaders to pay close attention to their onboarding processes, expectations, and the training provided to new staff. “Be mindful of the cycles of chaos and order when onboarding new staff,” Huntley advised. By understanding these cycles, leaders can create an environment where new employees feel supported and empowered, gradually building their skills without being overwhelmed by external chaos.
Embracing the cycles of stress for growth
Huntley concluded his talk by adding an important observation: “Managing chaos and order highlights the universality of experiencing distress and eustress.” He emphasised that everyone goes through these cycles of stress and growth, and recognising that they are normal and part of the human experience allows for greater acceptance and understanding within teams.
In reflecting on this, Huntley noted that embracing these cycles can help individuals and teams understand that both chaos and order are essential parts of the process of development. “Recognising that these cycles are normal and that everyone goes through them allows for a greater acceptance and understanding, both for oneself and within a team,” he shared.
Breakaway sessions
Following Huntley’s insightful session, participants had the opportunity to engage in breakaway sessions where they could further explore how chaos and order manifest in their own professional and personal lives. These sessions provided a platform for individuals to reflect on Huntley’s teachings and develop new strategies for approaching both states.
The feedback from these breakaway sessions was overwhelmingly positive, with participants reflecting on how they could apply the concepts of chaos and order to enhance their leadership and decision-making processes. The sessions also encouraged attendees to think critically about the balance between external pressures and internal resilience, and how they could use both to drive growth and success.
We thank our facilitators (below) for accepting our challenge to facilitate discussions:
- Dirk van den Berg (O'Keeffe & Swartz)
- Karen Naidoo (OMART Insure)
- Lindsay Robertson (MUA Insurance Acceptances)
- Linroy Peters (Charter Risk Underwriting Managers)
- Lucian Carciumaru (Camargue)
- Philip Cronje (Aon South Africa)
- Roshael Hoosen (Hollard)
- Samantha Williams (FIA)
- Shevani Sookdeo (Lloyd’s South Africa)
- Tebogo Baloyi (Bryte Insurance)
Thank you to sponsors and attendees
As the session came to a close, attendees left with fresh perspectives and practical tools to better manage chaos and order in their respective lives. Huntley’s inspiring guidance provided valuable insights that attendees could immediately apply to their professional environments.
We would like to extend our gratitude to our main sponsors, Aon and Bryte, as well as our table sponsors, Camargue, Lloyds, and O’Keeffe & Swartz, for their contributions to the success of the event. Their support made this meaningful discussion possible, and we look forward to future sessions where we can continue to explore leadership and personal development.
A big thank you to Global Choices for generously sponsoring the beautiful flower arrangements, adding a lovely touch to the décor.
Thank you to all who attended, and we hope the lessons learned from Huntley’s session will continue to guide you in managing chaos and order in your own lives.
See the photo album here