Nothing ever goes as planned! Most things have a tendency not to happen the way we plan or want them to. There will always be something that can throw a spanner sending the best laid plans for a mighty toss. And the only thing predictable about them is that they are unpredictable!
For instance, the computer chooses to crash just when you are in the middle of preparing a critical document and were just about to save your work! Coffee spills all over a memo that you oh-so-painstakingly prepared! A projector that was working just fine suddenly conks off amidst an important presentation! The list is endless…
Needless to say, such unexpected events wreak havoc will get you stressed and press the panic button in the face of the sudden crisis.
Nevertheless, unforeseen situations are a part of work and life – they crop up every now and then but when we least expect them to. Yet, they also present a golden opportunity to prove yourself. After all, it is how you react to the difficulties and deal with the challenges that can set you apart from the crowd.
Therefore, your job success can depend on not being overwhelmed by last-minute emergencies and adeptly taking care of the most difficult situation. Calmly dealing with the unexpected will not only earn you kudos from the boss/manager but also paint you in a resourceful and brilliant light – a definite stepping-stone to career success.
Taking the unexpected in your stride: Expectedly, when something strikes out of the blue, things will go haywire around you, as everyone gets flustered and anxious. The trick is to stay calm and not let the unexpected ruffle your feathers.
Decide that you will never let unanticipated difficulties stop you from achieving your goals and that you will do your best to work around the obstacles. This will help you to maintain a positive perspective and act sensibly even in the face of the unforeseen.
Instead of panicking over the dire consequences, you should continue to think rationally and try your best to pull things together.
Yet, you cannot afford to randomly attack the problem, hoping that the correct solution will materialise. The focus should be on proactively finding a possible solution by getting to the core of the issue.
Think over various options – what can be done and what cannot, what steps are needed to solve the problem – and then prioritise your actions accordingly. This calls for some creativity and fine judgment as you constantly try to improvise and look for suitable alternatives.
Once you have a feasible solution in hand, go ahead and deal with the situation quickly and effectively. If needed, do not hesitate to seek assistance or join hands with others in your quest to restoring normalcy. And once done, try to learn from the situation as to what was done right as well as what can be done differently.
Another wise suggestion from the experts is to try to expect the unexpected! This calls for anticipating all possibilities that something can probably go wrong. Then create contingency plans in advance like, ‘If this will happen, I will do this’ to cover every possibility.
For instance, your emergency toolkit can consist of backup lists of repairmen, temporary employment agencies and the like. And voila, you can instantly find solutions in the face of the direst crisis! All it will take is a couple of phone calls at best.
Yet, bear in mind that it is never possible to predict or even plan for every contingency. Else, it would no longer remain ‘unexpected’. All you can do is persist in the face of the unforeseen problem and try to roll with the punches.
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