How to Keep a Level Head in a Crisis

Disaster can strike at any time, but when you're the one in charge, you need to lead by example and keep a level head. Crisis management is a critical skill for anyone in a management position. When things get tough, you're the one people look to for reassurance and guidance. If you lose your cool, then others will do the same and the situation will go from bad to worse.

Before a crisis even strikes, you should be planning for every eventuality. There are some crises you can't see coming and others you should be able to spot in advance and devise counter strategies for. Think about the projects you have coming up, the partnerships with other organisations, the contracts you've signed – things can go wrong anywhere and everywhere, and they often do.

When a major problem does emerge, you need to muster all your strength to remain calm and become a role model. It's the old swan analogy – you can be paddling furiously beneath the surface, but you need to look serene from the outside. Don't let negativity creep in because that's infectious, and don't avoid addressing the issue with others, junior and senior. If you bury your head in the sand, they will do the same.

If you had a plan in place, bring people on board and implement it. If the crisis was unforeseen, develop a plan with the input of others and take action. The best thing you can do as a manager is be decisive and clear with your orders.

Finally, once you've got through the rough patch, it's your job to communicate the lessons learnt and shape them into a plan for a repeat incident. The difficult times make us stronger, as individuals and as teams. Never give up hope in the midst of a crisis and always keep your cool.