3 tips for 'welcoming' crises

Stefan Edberg, the former Wimbledon tennis champion, explained that peak performers have an interesting approach to crises. Speaking about encountering difficulties in a match, he said: “I welcome crises - providing there aren’t too many. Why? My opponent will also have crises during a match. Tennis matches often hinge on what happens during such special moments. The way we each react to problems can therefore decide the match. I am good at overcoming crises, so that gives me an advantage. Beating a crisis early shows my opponent that I have inner strength, which gives me momentum. Then we need to see how he reacts when meeting problems. That is why I welcome crises.”

Let’s explore how you can take the following steps towards managing critical events.

1) You can anticipate & rehearse the crisis.

Looking ahead to the next few months, do three things. First, brainstorm the potential crises you could encounter - then focus on one of these possibilities. Second, describe how you might prevent the difficulty happening. Third, describe how - if it does happen - you can overcome the crisis. Consider all the possible knock-on eventualities, then settle-on a clear action plan. Try completing the following exercise.

The potential crisis I could face in the future is:

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The things I can do to prevent this crisis happening are:

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The things I can do to manage the crisis if it does happen are:

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Rehearse everything until you are completely happy - perhaps even looking forward to such a crisis - then move onto the next step.

2) You can ‘welcome’ & manage the crisis.

You will follow your own plan for tackling the problem. But it can also be good to learn from how peak performers behave in critical situations. They focus on the 3 C’s – calmness, clarity and concrete results - to solve crises. Calmness: they start by being very calm and, if appropriate, buying time to get an overview of the situation. Clarity: they focus on the real results to achieve. Concrete results: they brainstorm: a) the possible ‘conventional’ solutions - tried and trusted ways that have worked before; b) the possible ‘creative’ solutions. Choosing their way forward, they then keep working hard, get concrete results and solve the crisis. Bearing these ideas in mind, try completing the following exercise.

The specific things I can do to perform
superbly during the midst of the crisis are:

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3) You can gain strength & develop from the crisis.

Athletes who win Gold Medals have often gone through personal crises. One memorable example was Sebastian Coe. The official Olympic site records what happened:
“Sebastian Coe arrived at the 1980 Moscow Olympics as the world record holder and favourite at 800m. However he ran what he called ‘the worst race of my life’ and finished second behind compatriot Steve Ovett. Six days later, a determined Coe redeemed himself in the 1,500m. During the final curve, he drove past Jürgen Straub and won the gold medal by four metres.”

Can you remember a time when you drew strength and wisdom from a critical event? People show their true character in adversity - often drawing on lessons they have learned from setbacks. Try completing the following exercise.

The specific lessons that I have learned from crises in the past are:

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The specific things I can do to apply these lessons in the future are:

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Crises can be the making of a person. Peak performers use these to show their ability to overcome adversity. This is a crucial step on the road to delivering success.