The Dow plunges 2,000 points. Coronavirus is coming to your hometown. What do you do?

Do you rush into action or stand still and assess the evidence? Do you ruminate about what happened and stressfully forecast the worst future scenarios? Or do you steadily move forward with workable actions to stem the fallout while alert for growth opportunities?

Crisis management is the process of managing any disruptive situations that affect your business, employees and customers. Your mindset is the quality of your beliefs and attitudes along with their emotional ties. In a crisis, how you think, feel and what you do are a result of your mindset. The best leaders understand this. So can we.

During a crisis, exceptional leaders briefly pause to reflect and consider all the evidence known to date. They act with a blend of facts and concern for the mental and emotional impact on others. They understand that what they do is just as important as how they do it.

Exemplary leaders choose to move forward holistically, with short term actions that consider long term goals. They rely on their wisdom gleaned from the past and are agile enough to risk new ideas for different outcomes. They simplify their thinking, get back to basics and focus on the critical priorities. They accept the nature of chaos and are patient enough to work through it.

We can do the same with our self-leadership. We can lead ourselves and those within our circle of influence in the same outstanding manner by being accountable for our attitudes and resulting behaviors. We can cultivate a Crisis Management Mindset (CMM) to make a big difference at home and in our workplaces and communities.

When you develop a CMM, you become more courageous and life becomes more manageable. You learn to handle challenges in an intentional way that keeps you grounded. You strengthen your reputation. You become a role model for others as you positively influence their wellbeing and stability.

A CMM is not not an alarmist mindset that looks for threats around every corner. It’s a proactive process that tethers you to your authentic best regardless of the despair surrounding you.

Here are a few things you can do to create a Crisis Management Mindset:

1. Know your Core Values. These are the qualities of your authentic, best self. Practice them daily so that during a crisis, you will naturally default to them. 
2. Consistently check your thoughts, choices and behaviors to see if they are based on your Core Values. If not, consider how you can modify them to align with your highest and best self.
3. During a crisis, reflect on the impact of your actions on others. You might have good intentions but the execution is what matters. Be flexible and willing to adjust so that you meet people where they are for maximum success.

An effective Crisis Management Mindset has self-leadership at its core. Begin by assessing your Core Values. Here’s an exercise to help you do this. Sharpen your ability to manage a crisis today and prepare to live and work more confidently tomorrow no matter what the stock market or the coronavirus does.

Jo-Aynne von Born, Certified Professional Coach

Authentic Success for Entrepreneurs, Executives, Business Leaders

Individual/Team Coaching, Workshops