When you are faced with a crisis, how do you respond? Do you shift gears into crisis resolution mode? Or, do you start to panic under the weight of all the pressure and stress? The crisis could be the result of conflict, a spiralling situation, an escalating situation, or a whole host of issues.
Just like in any stressful situation, your mind starts to race. Your brain triggers the body’s fight or flight response and you are suddenly overwhelmed with the weight of the crisis. You can’t avoid it, even though you’d like to.
How to Handle Crises (In General)
1. Make a Solid Plan
Plan for the worst-case scenario and the best. When you plan for every outcome, you can manage any situation that arises.
2. Identify The Crisis
When you encounter a crisis, you must immediately identify it and the reasons for it so that you can apply corrective actions.
3. Organise All the Things
Organise your best response and find the best solutions to overcome the crisis. Whatever the issue you are faced with, there’s a plan of action that will stand out.
4. Tackle it Quickly
The larger the problem the more diligence will be required to resolve it. The most serious problems can be solved easily if you catch them early enough, which is why it’s so important to be mindful of your stressors, triggers, and plan for any outcome. The longer a crisis is allowed to fester, the more difficult it will be for you to resolve it.
5. Learning Lessons
When you resolve a crisis, make sure you take a lesson with you. This is a lesson you can apply to further plans in order to prevent a similar crisis from occurring. The best way to prevent history from repeating itself is to apply the lessons you learn and better prepare your future plans.
6. Don’t Pass Blame
It’s always tempting to blame others, whether it’s justified or not. By blaming others you steal your power away and remove accountability from the situation. This is your problem and it’s within your power to resolve it, but not if you try to cast blame elsewhere instead of dealing with the problem head-on.
7. Bring Yourself to Resolution
The quicker you can resolve the crisis, the better off you will be. Of course, this goes without saying.
8. Do Your Best to Remain Calm
Whatever you do, remain calm and do not panic. You’re planning for the unexpected so it’s all going to work itself out, provided you can keep a cool head.
Managing Relationship Crises
While some of the tips above can be applied to a crisis within relationships, there are better ways to resolve issues. Remember, no matter the situation, there is no substitute for sincerity. Don’t give in to the impulse to react harshly or give in to your anger by using foul language or being disrespectful.
• It isn’t just about putting your own view across, you have to listen to what the other person is saying, too. Don’t get caught in a single point of view, everyone has their own perspective, and understanding theirs is going to help you resolve this crisis.
• Don’t criticise or complain, instead put your feelings into a request that can be addressed constructively.
• Don’t blame the other person for everything. There are always three sides to every story and you have to make room for the truth that lies between your story and theirs.
• Be polite, be respectful, and remind yourself that this is a skill that requires practice, especially when dealing with intense emotion.
• Once the crisis is resolved, let go and move on. Don’t punish yourself or your partner by keeping the fight alive unnecessarily.
• Think about what it’s like to interact with you. Would you want to deal with a crisis with you? If not, what can you do to improve your responses?
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