"5 Minutes and 5 Phone Calls"

As a leader it’s important to set the tone for your team or organization; as to how to handle difficult or crisis situations.  If the leader wigs out, stresses out or has a heart attack during high stress or crisis situations; there will always be undertones of that stress transferred to the rest of the team. 

When I was a Warden in the prison system I developed a particular philosophy and mindset; as it related to handling high stress or crisis situations.  As you can imagine running a prison presented daily potentially high stress, crisis and potentially life & death situations.  The mindset and saying that I created was: ”There is nothing that we can’t begin to fix in 5 Minutes and 5 Phone Calls.”    I trained my Chief of Security and my Officers to not sweat the small stuff and embrace the fact that crisis situations will happen… it’s not about the situation it’s about how you handle the situation.

If there was a full-blown prison riot the process within the first 5 Minutes would be to make the following 5 Phone Calls:

1. Call Local Law Enforcement
2. Call Me “The Warden”
3. Call The Department of Corrections Liaison
4. Call Vice President of Operations
5. Call Media/PR Representative

This mindset puts all situations; including crisis situation into the perspective of: “When there is a problem; whether it be work related or personal… there is the beginning to a solution around the corner.”  Quit Trippin’, Tell Your Boss to Quit Trippin’, Stop Wiggin’ Out and realize that every situation including life & death ones can can begin to be fixed in “5 Minutes and 5 Phone Calls.”

• Have you experienced leaders in crisis situations either: wigg out or taking the 5 Minute and 5 Phone Call approach?  Thoughts, Discuss!  

Quit Trippin’… Transcend The isms