The attribute I value most in those in a position of leadership is the ability to bring calm to a difficult situation, rather than ramp up the tension.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t react at all, or pretend a disaster is just fine. It means you don’t make it worse, and you do what you can to help.

Last year I was dealing with a bit of a catastrophe at work. No one was going to get hurt, but clients were affected and urgency was high. A colleague who was better able to address the situation arrived on the scene. When he showed up, there was no panic. Instead, there was a calm assessment of the situation, and then a methodical approach to diagnosing and fixing the issue.

The level of calm this person brought to the situation made us all work more effectively to get things fixed. It was clear that they understood the severity of the situation and of the urgency to get things fixed — they didn’t need to dwell on it.

When you arrive on the scene of a metaphorical fire, some of us ramp up the urgency, and start yelling “FIRE! Somebody do something!”. It doesn’t help anyone. Then there are those who arrive on the scene, take a moment to figure out what matters most, and use this context to guide their actions.

Is there anyone in the burning building? If not, you probably shouldn’t run in to it (I’m not sure you should ever run into a burning building — don’t take your firefighting advice from me). If the building is lost, don’t waste your energy throwing handfuls of water on an inferno. Get to safety. Get others to safety. Maybe there are other structures nearby that can be saved.

Next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, take a moment to consider if you are making it better.