In order to address a crisis, you need to define what a crisis is for you. 

It can mean different things to different individuals and to different businesses as well.

Similarly to how people on the other side of the world (and sometimes even the other side of the street) experienced last year differently than you did, companies experience varying levels of crises in diverse ways.

Some companies are afraid to label anything as a crisis. They may feel the word is being stacked up against the little stores downtown that, due to COVID-19, had to close their doors for three months and are now permanently closed. Whereas other businesses may not hesitate to label not getting a shipment on time as a high-priority crisis to resolve.

Only you can determine whether or not the problem you are facing in your business is a crisis—and then you can deal with it.

Do you know what “a crisis” is for your business?

Only once you’ve defined what a crisis is for your business, can you then begin to resolve it. Here are three A’s you should keep in mind as you do so:

1. Acknowledge you are in a crisis.

Get out of the habit of comparing your misery to someone else’s. 

When you compare your crisis to headlines seen on the news, you set yourself up for trouble. Anything from a key employee leaving your business, to finding a new partner for a big project can be defined as a crisis. Define what it is for you.

Regardless of how small the matter might seem, if it is significant to your business and can impact your productivity and sales, it is a crisis. 

It’s okay to treat it as such.

2. Accept that you are in a crisis.

You might be struggling and think to yourself, “But there’s so much else happening around me.”

Don’t pay attention to what is happening across the street, across town, or the country. In order to start resolving a crisis, you first need to recognize and accept that you are in a crisis.

“Take the first step and admit you have a problem. It can be difficult, but it is the foundation of all positive change.”

3. Address it—seriously and immediately.

Let’s take the example of a key employee leaving. In many businesses I work with, management’s approach tends to be: “We’re better off without them anyway.”  

Instead, acknowledge that this employee was someone critical and there are key gaps in your business because they left. If you fail to address the gaps they leave, you are going to find yourself dealing with a much bigger crisis down the road. 

The main point is that, when something negative happens, do not ignore it or be dismissive. If you do, all you accomplish is allowing room for the problem to grow until it becomes so large it cannot be ignored.

Address the crisis and close the gaps as quickly as you can to avoid future ones.

We saw some alarming headlines last year, but you cannot compare your crisis to everyone or anyone else’s. 

It’s still a crisis for your business. Acknowledge it, accept it, and address it—you’ll grow stronger from it. 

Need help addressing your crisis and leading well through it? Schedule a call or drop me a line via email or social media.