Simple steps to solve a crisis

It always amazes me how hard it is to start fixing a crisis. Probably due to a crisis's unexpected nature, we simply find ourselves not knowing what to do. It often takes just too long to fix it and issues are left open and spiraling downward much further than necessary.

I have created a simple five step guide to solve most crises. Of course, all crises are different, and the person facing it will define the outcome much more than the process followed, but this template will help people jump into solutions quicker, ultimately reducing the impact and ensuring successful recovery from the crisis.

Here we go, please share your comments and feedback,

STEP ONE: First, Get rid of your anxiety.

A crisis is almost by definition overwhelming and stressful, maybe even traumatic. The human reaction to it is unplanned and our response rather impulsive. Often, we may feel threatened by possible outcomes or fear the unknown ones. All of this naturally causes anxiety to build up. Before you start, you have to face this anxiety and get rid of it, there's just not other way. This is a moment when you need to think straight and think fast, your reactions need to be quick but also highly effective. Any anxiety will cause you to react with immediate fight or flight responses and will not allow you to think as well as you could. Think of a paramedic driving an ambulance, do they have time to be anxious or scared, or do they need to make sure they are fully focused so they can get back to the hospital as safe and quickly as possible?

STEP TWO: Clearly but quickly understand the problem.

People try to fix a problem without understanding it, it's surprising but it happens, and quite often. Anxiety causes them to feel there's no time to understand the problem, and they should go straight to trying solutions. No matter how urgent the matter is, if you don't understand the problem, the solution will probably be inaccurate or extreme. If a doctor has someone with chest pains that look like a hearth attack, should he immediately go for open hearth surgery?

It is true that this step is a tricky one, though you should clearly understand the problem, you need to make sure that you spend only as much time as necessary to do so. After all, you still have a crisis to start fixing. Make sure to strike the right balance.

STEP THREE: Act, but only if you can and know how.

If you know an action that can help solve the crisis start working on it ASAP, doesn't matter how imperfect this solution could be. Do this even before asking for advice, crises don't need perfect answers, specially if they are still spiraling downward, they often need someone to step in and just do something.

On the other hand, if you don't know what to do, do not loose time trying to pull ideas out of your butt. Jump straight to #4 and ask for advice.

STEP FOUR: Ask for advice and help from everyone you can.

You're on a big problem. You need every help you can get. Talk to people, get different perspectives and advices on how to fix your issue, sometimes we even get great ideas just by talking about our issues. This doesn't mean you need to do everything you're advised to do, not at all. Rather, you should hear as much advise as you feel is necessary and then decide what to do for yourself.

STEP FIVE: Keep doing step #3 and #4 until this is not a crisis anymore

This is one of the biggest mistakes people do. They assume that because something has been done nothing further needs to be done. How much you should act further depends on the crisis, but more often than not, you should continue to do other things to get a crisis fixed even when there are specific tracks already in progress. If it is a small crisis, at least make sure to get it stabilized.

Other tips and advice

Clear your schedule now.

Before the crisis hit you, you probably had a lot of other things you where planning to do during the next few days. Cancel all of them, or least as much you can. Crises need full attention and you don't need any other distraction. If you can ask someone for a favor to cover you, do it, if you can reschedule appointments, reschedule them. Crises don't get solved unless you spend enough time solving them.

If you have routine tasks to do, cancel and reschedule them too. Picking up the kids from school and walking the dog might feel like things where you can still think about your problem while doing them, but you should try to ask someone to do them for a few days. Spending that time sitting down in a table and alone to fix your problem is very valuable.

Persistence, persistence, persistence

Quite often, it is sheer willpower that makes the difference. Do not stop working on it and putting your best effort until the crisis is over.