Keeping Your Calm When Things Get Hectic

Hello, I'm Ken Lear.

Chaos and anxiety are, unfortunately, sometimes just the nature of business. For many people, the first reaction to something bad or stressful happening at work is to respond in an equally stressful way. But this sets a bad example for other employees—and probably unnecessarily increases their own stress levels as well. No matter how many bad thoughts may be swimming through your brain, when you’re the boss, it’s important to remain calm and not let the negativity show.

Staying calm sets a good example for those around you and will make things easier for everyone involved. Whether your boss criticized a report or a client asked for something that will require working well into the evening – stay calm so that you can carry on.

In the midst of chaos, here are a few steps for staying calm:

Take a Break

While it may seem like the last thing to do if you are in a hurry, sometimes taking 5 minutes to cool off and rest your brain is more beneficial than those 5 minutes of working would have been. Try stepping outside and walking around the block or grabbing a quick coffee – make sure to get a change of scenery and a little blood flowing to clear your mind.

For more information about Ken Lear, check out his profile on CrunchBase.

Present Bad News Calmly

If something horrible has happened at work that has to be communicated to other employees, speak calmly and deliberately. Running into someone’s office and blurting out the bad news will only cause more chaos. Take a few minutes to review what has happened and determine what needs to happen next. Your employees are more likely to sit down and think of rational steps toward a solution if information is presented in a deliberate way.

Think Out the Problem

If the problem can be fixed, sit down and calmly brainstorm ways to do so. Once this is done, create a to-do list prioritized by order of importance. If your boss has criticized you for something, think of ways to improve. If the issue is with a client, think of how you can approach the problem that will leave everyone satisfied.

Smile

While there may be something seriously bad going on, having a negative attitude won’t help—and could actually exacerbate the situation. The problem has to be dealt with either way, so isn’t it better to be in a good mood while doing so? Listen to a song that will pep you up or find some other quick way to brush off the frustration. The important thing is that you stay positive. An honest smile can go a long way toward putting others at ease.

Follow Ken Lear on Tumblr for more business, entrepreneurial, and leadership advice.