Time: Worst Practice: Management by Crisis

Management by crisis is a phrase used to describe the common problem of allowing unexpected events, interruptions, problems, or emergencies to dictate your priorities and actions.

Effective crisis management is such an important skill to have and of course, use; it is an essential skill of effective time managers because unexpected things do happen in every business, every day. Sometimes we do need to react quickly to a crisis and contain it before it does more damage. The problem comes when crisis management becomes the routine rather than the exception. If you spend more of your time putting out fires than doing your work, you are managing by crisis.

When crisis management becomes the routine, it can easily lead to what Stephen Covey refers to as "Urgency Addiction." People that are addicted to urgency enjoy putting out fires, they like stepping in and solving problems, and their bosses often reward them for doing so. They have no incentive to avoid or prevent the fires because they get a payoff every time they put one out.

To eliminate the worst practice of management by crisis you need to take two important steps.

First, you must distinguish between a real crisis -- which is something important that requires your immediate attention -- and other lesser problems, events, or interruptions that do not qualify as a true crisis.
The second key step is to realize that when crisis management becomes the routine rather than the exception, it's usually pointing to a more fundamental problem that needs to be solved. There is an old Chinese proverb that says: "The superior doctor prevents sickness. The mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness. The inferior doctor treats sickness." Don't just treat the symptoms of the latest crisis, cure the underlying disease and prevent it from recurring.

Our clients are constantly amazed at how often a simple awareness of how much time in their day (their life) is being lost to 'Management by Crisis' One of the first areas you will work with together with a coach is in taking back control of your time.

Take Time (Author Unknown)

Take time to think - thoughts are the source of power.
Take time to play - play is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read - reading is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to pray - prayer can be a rock of strength in time of trouble.
Take time to love - loving is what makes living worthwhile.
Take time to be friendly - friendships give life a delicious flavor.
Take time to laugh - laughter is the music of the soul.
Take time to give - any day of the year is too short for selfishness.
Take time to dream - dreams show you what is possible.
Take time to work - work is the price of success.
Take time to do your work well - pride in your work, no matter what it is, nourishes the mind and the spirit.
Take time to show appreciation - thanks is the frosting on the cake of life.

To learn more about how a business coach will help you take back control of your time and achieve your goals, contact John Layzell Today (Click Here) or call 305-899-9963 for a complimentary coaching session.

"I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities." Bob Nardelli, CEO of Home Depot, FORTUNE MAGAZINE -

Nobody gets to the Olympics without a coach!

My vision is success and prosperity in South Florida through business re-education.

Call me now at 305-899-9963 to schedule your complimentary coaching session.

John Layzell
Synergis Business Solutions, Inc.
2235 Magnolia Drive
North Miami, FL 33181
Ph: 305.899.9963
Fax: 305.893.3165
Email: Click Here