The Three A’s of Handling Situations

It is inevitable that problems will come under any leadership. The majority of people who are in leadership struggle to deal with hard issues and situations that arise from the people within the organization. I have devised a simple but effective method for dealing with tough problems. It all boils down to the information we possess and how we use it. Before responding to a situation, there are a few things we must do with the information. Reacting to a situation means you are skipping these steps.

• Analyze the information.
  • Determine if your sources are credible
  • Gather information from other sources with opposing views or perspectives
  • Take a step back and breathe. Let the information percolate for a while.
  • If necessary, defer this step until you are rested or less emotional.
  • Look at both sides of the issue. Find the good in both sides, and equally, find the negative in both sides as well.
  • Determine how this information affects all parties involved. Reach to the extremities of the situation and look at every possible outcome.
  • Pray for God to give you guidance and wisdom.
• Apply your analysis.
  • Look to Scripture and find principles upon which to base your conclusions. Also cross reference stories that illustrate these principles.
  • Pray for a humble heart and for the words to speak to the situation.
  • Create a definitive plan of action on paper.
  • Based on your analysis, determine the proper setting in which you wish to handle the situation.
    • Public setting vs. Closed doors
    • One-on-one vs. Group meeting
    • Off-site vs. On-Campus
• Take Action.
  • Pray that God would help you speak the truth in love and err on the side of mercy.
  • Contact the involved parties with direct communication regarding time, place, and any preparations they need to make.
  • Be organized. Have an agenda for the meeting in front of you and stick to the topic.
  • Present both sides of the issue and allow both sides to give their perspective.
  • Humbly, but firmly present your assessment of the situation. People want to be spoken directly to. Do not beat around the bush. It is within human nature to desire honesty. Be plain and direct in your language.
  • Present your decision on the matter and a concrete plan of action.
  • Chart a path of accountability for resolution of the matter.
  • End with prayer and a time to begin restoration for the parties involved.
  • Follow-up on the issue. Meetings usually are not where problems are solved. They are the confrontation of an issue and where a plan is initiated to solve the problem. Resolution of the matter typically happens in the following days, weeks, or months depending on the severity of the issue. If it’s a major issue, you’re going to need some major follow-up. This includes phone calls, emails, meals (face time), and prayer support.

Dealing with tough issues takes energy and time, but it’s worth every drop of blood, sweat, and tears. Your proper handling of situations will strike a trust within your leadership that will weather even the toughest of times and circumstances. Don’t shrink back from these wonderful opportunities to solidify trust within your leadership. If you actively handle these situations properly, you will keep your leaders. If you passively ignore hard circumstances, you will do long-term damage to your leadership team and eventually lose some leaders.