There are different kinds of crisis. Some are real. Some are exaggerated. Some are of our own making. Some are literally thrust upon us. Some are business. Some are personal. It doesn’t matter what type of crisis you encounter or how the particular crisis falls upon us, there are some common steps you should take to deal with them all, big or small.
1. Don’t ignore them or pretend they don’t exist.
2. Deal with a crisis calmly, not anxiously, not with anger.
3. Deal with a crisis patiently, slowly, cautiously.
4. Always develop a plan. If you need to talk to others go ahead but try to avoid talking to people who have a vested interest in the outcome. Find someone who has been through similar circumstances. Someone with experience. I always prefer to talk to someone ‘older and wiser’.
5. Solve a crisis methodically. This means follow your plan step by step. Make adjustments when necessary. If you find yourself becoming anxious, maybe even stressing, or trembling, stop immediately. Gather yourself. Proceed only when you are calm. Some of the biggest mistakes we make are when we are rushing to solve a problem or issue.
Remember there are no quick fixes but there are always solutions. It is very important that you understand how this crisis came about so you can avoid it—or do your best to avoid it in the future.
A crisis is never the end of the world. You will get through it. It may not seem like it but you will. Sometimes when I’ve faced a crisis I project where I’ll be in a year and pretend I am looking back at the crisis. I know this crisis will be just a memory, a short chapter, maybe just a paragraph in a long book I call ‘My Life’.
