Don't Panic! How to Keep Your Cool in a Crisis

Transcript

[Presenter] How do you respond in a crisis? Do you freeze up? Do you run away? Or do you rush into action?

The word crisis may conjure up images of natural disasters or economic downturns. But, in the workplace, a crisis can range from an important client leaving to a sudden product recall, or having large numbers of staff off sick – anything unexpected and damaging to your team or organization.

But don't panic!

In this video, we'll show you what you need to do to keep your cool when things go wrong.

1. Be Prepared

First, you need to prepare. Things do and will go wrong: being prepared is half the battle.

Brainstorm anything that could constitute a crisis for you, your team, or your organization. Once you've got a good idea of the dangers, make some contingency plans of what you would do if the situations arise.

Then share those plans with everyone who would be involved, so that they're prepared, too.

2. Manage Your Feelings

As the boxing legend Mike Tyson once said, "Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the face." In other words, even if you're prepared, a crisis can still feel like a painful shock. So, if one does occur, keep your emotions in check.

You might be tempted to rush into action. But before you do so, take a beat, breathe deeply, relax your body, and take some time to gather your thoughts.

Also, don't be afraid to seek advice from others.

3. Put Your Plans Into Practice

Remember those contingency plans you made? Now's the time to put them into action! Other people might be freaking out, but you and your team already know what to do and where to start.

Instead of panic mode, it's time to enter "controlled-emergency mode." Spend your time and energy on what you can control. Avoid getting bogged down by trying to change things that you can't, as tempting as it may be.

But, be flexible with your plans. If they aren't working, don't be afraid to change them. Your contingency plans were made before things went wrong. The reality of a crisis might mean you need to change course unexpectedly. So stay alert and open.

4. Support Others

If you are a manager or leader, do your best to stay positive and confident. You need to be there for others who might be struggling to control their emotions.

Lead by example, by showing that you are organized, prepared, and decisive.

5. Guard Against Negative Behaviors

Being the perfect leader isn't always easy though. Under the pressure of a crisis, it's natural for stress and anxiety to build, but you might also find negative behaviors start to creep in as a result. So be on your guard.

Watch out, especially, for signs of abandoning the team to cover yourself, blaming others, clamming up and not communicating effectively, or forgetting procedures or processes as panic takes over.

If you notice any of these behaviors, stop for a moment, regulate your emotions, and focus on getting the situation back under control – for everyone's benefit.

Let's recap.

When a crisis hits, no matter the cause, you need to keep calm and take control. To do this, you first need to be prepared by drawing up contingency plans. You'll also need to manage your emotions, so you can carry out your plans effectively. Be sure to support your team through this tough time as well, and to guard against negative behaviors, like blaming others or failing to communicate properly.

When you do all this, you'll be in a much stronger position to cope with crisis and lead your team through it successfully.