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Managing Chaos: Tools to Set Priorities and Make Decisions Under Pressure

Welcome to chaos—otherwise known as the world in which we all work today. Attend this seminar and get proven solutions for managing chaos and minimizing its negative impact. First, you’ll discover how you can harness the energy of a dynamic, though often chaotic, work environment and avoid feeling overwhelmed when things start to spin out of control. You’ll learn a variety of tools that will help you re-think the way you approach chaos and enable you to leverage resources to help you tackle challenging situations as they arise. Gain hands-on experience applying tools for setting priorities and adjusting to shifting demands with greater clarity. Practice techniques for analyzing and resolving problems and learn to strategically communicate your solutions. You’ll leave confident and ready to apply the most appropriate techniques to clarify, alleviate and eliminate chaos within your control—and better manage your reactions to the chaos beyond your control.  

Seminar Number: 02261

5
(816 reviews)
  • In-Person
  • Live Online
  • At Your Company Location

Course Scheduling & Pricing

Home>Course Topic>Analytical Skills>Managing Chaos: Tools to Set Priorities and Make Decisions Under Pressure

About This Course

Some days you might feel you’re running from one crisis to the next. This chaos management course is designed to break that cycle. Instead of just reacting to whatever's loudest, you'll learn practical ways to manage chaos, how to make clearer decisions when the pressure's on, bring order to turbulent work environments and stop confusing "busy" with "effective." Through structured thinking and real-world chaos training solutions, you'll build the skills to eliminate operational chaos before it consumes your calendar. Whether you're juggling competing deadlines or navigating organizational change, this program empowers you to lead with clarity and make responsible decisions, even when disorder feels like the norm.

Read the FAQs

Who Should Attend

Anyone facing expanding workloads, shifting priorities, complex organizational dynamics, organizational restructuring and increased uncertainty

  •   In-Person2 Day(s)
    1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE, 12 PDU, 12 PMU
  •   Live Online2 Day(s)
    1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE, 12 PDU, 12 PMU
 
 

Welcome to chaos—otherwise known as the world in which we all work today. Attend this seminar and get proven solutions for managing chaos and minimizing its negative impact. First, you’ll discover how you can harness the energy of a dynamic, though often chaotic, work environment and avoid feeling overwhelmed when things start to spin out of control. You’ll learn a variety of tools that will help you re-think the way you approach chaos and enable you to leverage resources to help you tackle challenging situations as they arise. Gain hands-on experience applying tools for setting priorities and adjusting to shifting demands with greater clarity. Practice techniques for analyzing and resolving problems and learn to strategically communicate your solutions. You’ll leave confident and ready to apply the most appropriate techniques to clarify, alleviate and eliminate chaos within your control—and better manage your reactions to the chaos beyond your control.

 

  • Identify positive outcomes from chaotic environments
  • Clarify and leverage or eliminate chaos within your control
  • Set priorities for all your activities
  • Focus and act decisively when priorities shift
  • Use tools to problem-solve and select a course of action
  • Manage interruptions and conflicts with greater ease
  • Communicate your needs strategically
  • Welcome to chaos: examining sources of chaos
  • Describing the effects of change on managers and employees
  • Defining personal and group goals in a chaotic environment
  • Identifying chaos within your control
  • Examining and selecting tools for planning priorities
  • Identifying root causes of problems/issues
  • Generating creative solutions to problems
  • Organizing ideas to firmly grasp a problem’s critical components
  • Creating a daily action plan
  • Implementing best practices for time management
  • Managing interruptions and distractions
  • Implementing best practices for improving your influencing communications
  • Applying tools and techniques to resolve case scenarios developed in the class
  • Using influencing tactics in conversations
  • Identifying tools and developing a plan to manage your workplace chaos

Special Feature

This Seminar Features Blended Learning

AMA Blended Learning combines instructor-led training with online pre- and post-seminar assessments, tune-up courses and other resources to maximize your training goals. Through a blend of proven instructor-led seminars and powerful online technology, AMA Blended Learning provides a compelling and more comprehensive experience for the learner—producing a greater return-on-investment for the employer and the seminar participant.

Learning Objectives

  • Distinguish the Chaos That You Can Control from the Chaos That is Beyond Your Control
  • Make Decisions Based on a Multifaceted Analysis of a Problem
  • Learn a Variety of Tools for Decision-Making and Organization
  • Determine the Best Order of Tasks Based on Importance and Urgency
  • Practicing Influencing and Communication Skills to Manage Shifting Priorities, Build Alliances, and Get the Buy-In You Need
  • Identify and Use Tools Most Applicable to Your Current Chaos

Asking Key Questions

  • Describe the Effects of Change on Managers and Employees
  • Define Personal and Group Goals in a Dynamic Environment
  • Understand How to Get a Grip on a Chaotic Environment Through Asking Key Questions
  • Employ the Problem Statement and Gap Analysis as Tools to Identify the Problem and Begin to Address it

Priority-Planning and Decision-Making Tools

  • Examine and Select Tools for Planning Priorities
  • Identify Root Causes of Problems or Issues
  • Manage Competing Priorities
  • Generate Creative Solutions to Problems
  • Organize Ideas to Firmly Grasp a Problem’s Critical Components

Planning Your Work

  • Create a Daily Action Plan for Completion of the Most Important Priorities
  • Implement Best Practices for Time Management
  • Manage Interruptions and Distractions

Influencing and Communication Skills

  • Identify Your Communication’s Purpose
  • Understand Your Audience
  • Craft Your Message to Appeal to Your Audience
  • Implement Best Practices for Improving Your Influencing Communications
  • Avoid Team Miscommunications

Action Planning

  • Reassess the Source(s) of Chaos you Identified
  • Evaluate and Complete Your Action Plan
  • Present Your Action Plan to a Partner for Feedback

Download Extended Seminar Outline PDF

View a Sample of Our Reviews

5

816 reviews

 
The course was a perfect mix of formal tools and interpersonal skill development strategies.
5
Monica B.
 
Program Officer
 
Industry: Insurance
Great instructor and support staff. Very knowledgeable and friendly, allowed for a lot of personal stories, helped apply the knowledge to real world scenarios and provided valuable additional information about the tools taught.
5
Ian J.
 
Compliance Manager
 
Industry: Manufacturing, Electronics
Some good strategies on how I can help manage my time better.
5
Adam L.
 
Service Delivery Speciallist
 
Industry: Business Services, Advertising & Marketing
Very informative with just enough balance of faculty led training and group beakout sessions.
5
Mark M.
 
Director of Operations
 
Industry: Manufacturing, Industrial Machinery & Equipment

This course is valid for 12 PMUs.

AMA is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (12 PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.

Talent Triangle PDUs
12 Power Skills [PS]
Project Management Institute (PMI) Talent Triangle, 2015.
Reproduced with the permission of PMI. Copyright and all rights reserved

American Management Association is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.

American Management Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. For additional information or for more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints and refunds, please contact Customer Service at 800-262-9699

Recommended CPE Credit: 14 hours/Basic
Prerequisites: Fundamental concepts of time management
Advance Preparation: Online pre-and post-assessment
Delivery Method: Group Live/Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Non-Technical – Communication & Marketing, Personal Development

In-Person Schedule

11 Sessions Available

Live Online Schedule

11 Sessions Available

  • $2,595.00 Non Members
  • $2,345.00 AMA Members
  • $2,301.00 GSA
Date Duration State City Zip
  2026-05-18 2026-05-19 May 18, 2026 - May 19, 2026 2 Days TX Dallas 75001 Dallas Register Now

  2026-06-08 2026-06-09 Jun 8, 2026 - Jun 9, 2026 2 Days MA Boston 02110 Boston Register Now

  2026-07-14 2026-07-15 Jul 14, 2026 - Jul 15, 2026 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2026-07-14 2026-07-15 Jul 14, 2026 - Jul 15, 2026 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2026-08-17 2026-08-18 Aug 17, 2026 - Aug 18, 2026 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2026-09-21 2026-09-22 Sep 21, 2026 - Sep 22, 2026 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2026-10-05 2026-10-06 Oct 5, 2026 - Oct 6, 2026 2 Days TX Dallas 75001 Dallas Register Now

  2026-10-19 2026-10-20 Oct 19, 2026 - Oct 20, 2026 2 Days CA San Francisco 94103 San Francisco Register Now

  2026-11-05 2026-11-06 Nov 5, 2026 - Nov 6, 2026 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2026-11-05 2026-11-06 Nov 5, 2026 - Nov 6, 2026 2 Days GA Atlanta 30309-7705 Atlanta Register Now

  2026-12-14 2026-12-15 Dec 14, 2026 - Dec 15, 2026 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Who benefits most from a managing chaos course?

This managing chaos course is designed for managers, supervisors, project leaders and high-performing professionals who operate in fast-moving, high-pressure environments. If you regularly juggle shifting priorities, tight deadlines and constant interruptions, this program helps you move from reactive to strategic—so you can stay focused and make better decisions under pressure.

What is “managing chaos” in a business environment?

Managing chaos in a business environment means maintaining clarity and control when priorities shift, deadlines collide and pressure increases. It involves structured decision making, effective planning and the ability to focus on what truly drives results. This course teaches practical tools to reduce workplace confusion and improve performance under pressure.

Is this managing chaos course helpful for managers leading teams through constant change?

Yes. This managing chaos course is especially valuable for managers leading teams through shifting priorities, tight deadlines and ongoing change. When expectations evolve quickly, leaders must stay clear-headed, set direction and make decisions others can trust.

What tools are taught to control workplace chaos?

The course introduces proven chaos tools for prioritization, decision analysis and workload management. Participants learn structured frameworks that help control chaos through effective planning, reduce reactive behaviors and improve team alignment.

What tools are taught to control workplace chaos?

The course introduces proven chaos tools for prioritization, decision analysis and workload management. Participants learn structured frameworks that help control chaos through effective planning, reduce reactive behaviors and improve team alignment.

Can this seminar help eliminate operational chaos?

Yes. Many professionals experience operational chaos caused by unclear expectations, shifting priorities or ineffective delegation. This course teaches how to identify root causes, streamline processes and create clearer action plans to reduce ongoing disruption.

Can this course be delivered in-house to help teams manage competing priorities and make decisions under pressure?

Yes. This course can be delivered at your company, in person or live online, for teams working in fast-paced or high-pressure environments. Delivery can be tailored to your organization’s challenges, priorities, and decision-making processes, helping participants set clear priorities, stay focused amid competing demands, and make sound decisions with confidence. To explore options, please contact us for more information.
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