Something goes wrong. You feel the pressure to do something immediately: send a message, make a call, settle it now.
The response can create more trouble than the original problem.
Give the facts a chance
Bill’s advice is to understand what happened before deciding what to do. Separate what you know from what you’re assuming. Identify the part you can influence and consider the available options.
That pause is part of making a useful decision. It gives you room to respond with purpose.
Take responsibility for your response
Business will bring setbacks. So will life. You won’t always get to choose the circumstances, but the decisions you make afterwards remain yours.
Before responding, ask:
- What are the facts?
- What can I control?
- Which options are actually available?
- What will this next action achieve?
The aim is to deal with the problem in front of you without creating another one in the process.
