One of the most important skills in leadership and life is how to handle a crisis when it occurs.  A crisis can be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. The issue is not the happening itself, the issue is how you as a person/leader deal with the crisis when it comes. Some handle a crisis by running from it, avoiding it, ignoring it, or deflecting it. None of those actions will solve it though and the longer you wait to address it, the more cancerous the problem becomes. There is a way to respond positively to a crisis. People who do, accept it in the early stages and then they face it, they use it, they learn from it and they grow from it. Like Nehemiah however, before we act, we must pray and reflect on it so that the Holy Spirit will guide us in wisdom. A willingness to manage a crisis to the best of our ability is a mark of a true leader. In fact, crisis management draws from your leadership skills. 

The five steps to successfully deal with a crisis:

·      Step one, ask questions and gather answers. If you don’t know the facts involved, you might mishandle a crisis.

·      Step two, listen—many leaders are too busy giving out marching orders rather than providing a sincere listening ear.

·      Step three, seek help—No crisis is wholly unique. Certain aspects of any given crisis have occurred before. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14. “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. Proverbs 15:22

·      Step four, determine a strategy/plan—Based on the counsel he receives, a leader makes a decision and chooses an appropriate way to deal with a crisis. Ask God for guidance.

·      Step five, implement and monitor the progress—set tangible goals and timetables to follow.

Nehemiah’s actions teach us the following:

·      Don’t ignore a crisis.

·      Don’t deflect a crisis. By its very nature, a crisis requires attention.

·      Don’t shift blame for a crisis.

·      Don’t overreact to a crisis. Other than a medical crisis, most situations develop into a crisis over time. Take the time you need to pray, seek help and discern over the crisis.

The Leadership notes are based on the book “A leader after God’s own heart” by Jim George.