Using the coronavirus pandemic as a framework, the critical role of the leader in managing chaos, complexity and uncertainty is explored. Important behaviors such as staying calm and focused, delivering honest, fact-based communication, being visible and available to staff, and setting short term goals are discussed. We address the necessity of capturing what frontline workers have learned from caring for patients with a novel virus so that organizational learning can be enhanced and best practices can be created and shared. The importance of finding meaning in the grief and loss created by the pandemic is addressed.