Most countries are not booming and many of them are in a crisis, including the US. There will be many noisy meetings as government officials all over the world gnash their teeth and snarl about the economic mess in their country. And, many businesses are in crisis mode as well. The question is, what can you as a business owner do about it?
The Captain Better Know What He’s Doing
As I mention in the articles’ title, anyone can take the helm in a calm sea.
While that’s not entirely true, it is certainly much easier to lead when it is “business as usual”. That passiveness has its own issues, but that’s a topic for another day.
Few do well in the face of a crisis.
Major turmoil brings out the worst in people and shines a spotlight on their true character. You’ve seen it—typically massive random activity, frustration and worse.
I have written earlier about determining if “the crisis” is indeed “your crisis”. But, let’s say it is yours. What do you do? What you don’t do is what most leaders do and that’s jump into the middle of the crisis “doing something“.
The best approach is not to “do something, but rather think…
The Steps To Take In A Crisis.
There are five specific steps to take every time you determine you have a serious, potentially terminal, issue.
- Select the leader. This may or may not be the manager. Actually, the crisis could be the manager is out of action. This is especially critical if each member of the entire group is capable of leading. Failure to do this is why typical crisis reaction is so emotion and spastic.
- Define the goal. The problem is not the goal, it is the condition. Far too much time is spent analyzing the crisis, discovering the root cause; and, trying to understand “why me?” Instead, decide where you are going—the goal.
- Assemble the resources. Once the goal is determined, it is a simple matter to make a list of the needed items. Round up those you own and go get the others from others.
- Agree on the required action. This involves making a who, what and when list. Decide what steps will be taken, who is going to be responsible for the step; and, when will the task be completed.
- Execute with accountability. Act only after the first four steps are finished. Regardless of how bad the crisis is, it can only be made worse by taking immediate and inappropriate action. Use an accountability system like the one we have built at Business Mastery.
History will tell if some of the knee jerk decisions made by the US recently were right. Whatever the case, you and I can not influence them.
Let’s commit to using the five steps I have outlined above when we are faced with our next major problem in our lives.