The purpose of this study was to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected leadership through the case of a Swedish preschool. The analytical framework draws from turbulence theory and multiple ethical paradigms. Findings indicate that established routines, principals' flexibility, explicit communication, and ethical sensitivity contributed to a moderate level of turbulence within the organization. Moreover, the findings reveal the importance of paying attention to children at risk when ordinary routines change. The paper concludes with an argument for the importance of principals' competence to lead with flexibility without losing shared vision and direction in times of anxiety and uncertainty.