How Great Leaders Handle High-Stress Situations. Turn hopeless into hopeful, and you’ll be on your way to overcoming what lays ahead. Take it one step at a time.

There are a lot of worst-case scenarios that can cause cortisol levels to skyrocket, even for the most seasoned business leaders. For some leaders, a crisis like the current Covid-19 pandemic is one of them. For others, there can be a variety of triggers. Your biggest client has given notice; your star employee is now working for your competitor; your stock value has plummeted. Leaders are stuck wondering how they’re going to pivot and scale the rather large mountain that stands in front of them. 

In these kinds of circumstances, there are two types of leaders. The first turns around and walks away. The second laces on their hiking books and begins the climb. Who do you think is more successful?

I know how difficult it can be to keep your cool. I’ve weathered the dot-com bubble, the 2008 recession, and many mountains along the way. Throughout the journey, I’ve learned from my mistakes, as well as from other leaders, on exactly what not to do. 

Here are three things leaders should never do during a rocky period. 

1. Focus on the negative.

In business, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. And when they do, it can seem like your entire world is closing in on you. When you’re at this point (and believe me, everyone will be at this point at one time or another), you must do everything you can to stay out of that negative spiral. 

Covid-19 has forced many of my company’s clients to close their doors and cease operations. This means revenues have not just dropped, but in some cases, come to a complete halt. Needless to say, morale is low. 

As each day passes, the totality of this situation becomes very clear. Clients and staff look to me for answers. And while I can’t offer an end date, there is one thing I can do: reinforce positivity. Turn hopeless into hopeful, and you’ll be on your way to overcoming what lays ahead.

Read more: inc