BOOM! It’s the moment when everything goes sideways. The crash. The shot. The lawsuit. The technical meltdown. In that instant, time blurs. Pressure spikes. Vision narrows. The crisis is real.

Based on my years of researching and working with crisis leaders, here are three underappreciated things that the best get right and the worst, well, you get it. First, is breathe to center and calm yourself. Second, don’t get sucked in. Step back to get perspective. And third, create space (and top cover) for the crisis team to do their work. Seems simple, but it isn’t. It takes courage and discipline.

This list is far from exhaustive. However, these are essential capabilities for leaders in turbulence (and just day-to-day craziness). Read the full piece on Medium.