In my years as an FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, I faced plenty of crises—whether it was a national security threat, cybercrime incident, or a situation where lives were on the line. One thing I learned quickly: when a crisis hits, you can’t solve everything at once. Your first priority must be survival and focus on what needs to be done immediately. I like to think of it this way—you’ve got to get the water out of the boat before you even think about fixing the holes. It’s a triage moment where your decisions now can affect whether things stay afloat or not in the future.
In this article, I’m going to walk you through the essential steps I’ve learned for managing a crisis. We’ll talk about why prioritizing the most immediate threats is crucial, how to stay focused when everything seems to be going wrong, and the mindset shift you need to not only survive, but lead your team through the chaos. It’s not about being perfect in the moment—it’s about resilience and clear-headed action.
Prioritize Stabilizing the Situation First
If you’ve ever been to an emergency room, you know the first step to healing is to stop the bleeding. In the same way, when a crisis hits, your first objective is to stop the immediate threat from sinking your boat. This might seem obvious, but in the chaos of a situation, it’s easy to get distracted by other issues—people start looking for the holes in the boat or trying to figure out why you are taking on water in the first place. But those are secondary concerns. If you don’t get the water out, the boat will sink before you can fix those problems. That’s how I approached any crisis I faced. My job was to focus on the immediate threat—whether it was a cyber attack or a national security issue—and make sure we didn’t go under before we could begin to assess the damage or plan our next move.
Prioritizing immediate actions is crucial because it allows you to stabilize the situation. The faster you can stop the water from rising, the quicker you can regain control and start planning for the next steps. If you’re spending time trying to solve all the problems at once, you’ll likely find that you’re not solving any of them effectively. In a crisis, you don’t have the luxury of time. You need to act quickly and decisively.
Wait to Build the Long-Term Plan
When it comes to crisis management, it’s easy to get caught up in building the long-term plan versus focusing on getting the water out. The time for visionary thinking will come, but first, you must survive the immediate threat. In the military and FBI, we called it “securing the perimeter.” You can’t win a war if your base is compromised.
Once the immediate issues are managed, that’s when the shift towards longer-term strategic thinking can begin. This is the point where you can start to assess the damage, understand the broader impacts of the crisis, and plan for recovery and mitigation against future risks. It’s when you can start to transition from reactive to proactive management.
Celebrate the Small Victories
There will be days when all you do is bail water. And in reality, crisis management is rarely about making giant leaps forward. It will often feel like you’re putting out fires left and right with little progress. Just know that in this stage or crisis management, it’s just about keeping the situation from getting worse.
However, on those days, it’s essential to have gratitude for the small victories and to keep working towards that bigger picture. Remind yourself and your team that every day you keep the crisis at bay is a win.
Stay Focused and Resilient
Getting the water out of the boat is more than just a task; it’s a mindset. It’s about focusing on what must be done to survive the crisis. It’s about resilience, about understanding that even when it feels like all you’re doing is bailing water, you’re still moving in the right direction.
In the end, the most effective leaders are the ones who can stay calm under pressure, make quick decisions, and focus on immediate priorities. Crisis management isn’t about perfection; it’s about survival, and survival starts with getting the water out of the boat.
Follow Along for More
Getting the water out of the boat is just the beginning! This article is the first in a three-part “Dealing with Crisis” series where I’ll be exploring insights from my own journey and tips for effective crisis management. In part two, we’ll delve into “The Power of Compartmentalization in Crisis Situations,” examining how dividing tasks can enhance focus during emergencies. Part three will focus on “The Power of a Strong Team,” highlighting the crucial role of teamwork in overcoming crises.
About Gina L. Osborn
Gina’s career began in the U.S. Army’s Counterintelligence Program investigating high-profile espionage cases in Germany at the end of the Cold War. After graduating from the FBI Academy in 1996, Gina became the only FBI agent on a task force addressing Asian organized crime in Orange County. Post-9/11, she coordinated counterterrorism efforts in Los Angeles and led the FBI’s Cyber and Computer Forensics Program, notably investigating the Sony Pictures hack. In 2022, as LA Metro’s Chief Safety Officer, she reduced violent crime by 34% before being unlawfully terminated after a whistleblower complaint. Now an international speaker and host of Lead Like a Lady podcast, Gina shares insights on authentic leadership, leading through chaos, crisis, and change, and rising to the top in male-dominated fields.
To learn more about Gina’s speaking topics and book her for your next event, visit www.ginalosborn.com.