If so, you are probably making the situation worse.

When you are a leader, the people around you will mirror your response. In a time of crisis, you must have the best thinking from everyone.

Leaders need to be a calming force in the face of challenges. We must be aware of our breathing, our thinking, and our physical mannerisms. If we feel the Incredible Hulk beginning to take over, we must do what is needed to chill out. Take a walk or go for a run. Spend a few moments in prayer or silent meditation. Get yourself to a calmer state.

Now that you have calmed yourself and are thinking with clarity, you are ready to lead your team toward a solution.

1. Gather the facts. You need to separate the real data from emotion as soon as possible. Ask your team to set aside feeling for the moment and provide you with relevant information so that you can uncover the true reality of the situation.

2. Communicate the facts. Individuals on your team may be reacting to rumors or incomplete information. Once you can see the full picture of what you’re up against, make sure your team understands the current reality as well.

3. Work toward a solution. Ask the team to come up with two or three viable solutions. Give them the time frame required for delivering results, and let them get to work.

Actively working together toward a clear objective is one of the most powerful ways to quell fear and generate a sense of calm. Your team needs you to set the example.

Times of crisis are difficult enough already. Don’t make it worse.

Over the years, I spent time with his leadership team and the thousand plus others that he led.  Frequently they would comment on how they loved working with him because, while they may not always like what he had to say, they always knew where they stood.

This leader had all sorts of sayings that went perfectly with his personality.  One of my favorites was “ I am leaning in on this one.”  This meant that he was diving head first into the problem.  He knew that business and life are filled with problems and challenges, which are just waiting to be solved and learned from.

He helped me to see that candor combined with compassion is fuel for a healthy culture.  He is not a leader that ignores the challenges with a hope that over time they will go away.  Instead, he leans in, knowing that he must have the courage to press toward a solution.

This week I am nearly finished with a book by Dr. Henry Cloud called Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality.  In this must-read book, Dr. Cloud talks about leaning in.  He says that great leaders with high levels of integrity don’t ignore the elephant in the room.  They have the courage to lean into the problems that most people shy away from.

Leadership takes courage.  Our teammates, our customers, our spouses, our children and our communities are looking for people with the character and the courage to be the leaders many fear to be.

Take a look in the mirror.  Have you been willing to lean in and work to find the better solution?  Or have you been sitting back hoping that the issue will go away or someone else will take care of the problem?

Lean In!