These tips were provided by ToastMasters.org.
Focus on your breathing
First and foremost, you need to focus on how you breathe. Calm breathing is key to lowering blood pressure and heart rate, and calming both body and mind. If you are feeling overwhelmed, step back for a moment and take ten calm, long breaths. Concentrate on exhaling, which should take twice as long as inhaling.
Do not look for the culprit, seek a solution
While dealing with a crisis, you should focus on positive things. Subconsciously, people first try to find the culprit and give them what for, or shift responsibility for the problem from their own shoulders. Instead, you should try to bring the team together. Do not look for the person responsible for the problem, but rather resolve the situation. There will be time to look for causes and people to blame later.
Have a crisis plan ready in advance
The best way not to be stressed when a crisis comes is to have prepared for it in advance. Not only will you then know what you need to do, but you will also feel calmer as you will be following a predetermined plan. Of course, you cannot prepare for every single eventuality, but you can have a set of general procedures ready to choose and benefit from in such a situation.
Keep subordinates busy
The trouble with many managers is that once a crisis occurs, they try to put out the fire themselves. They believe they have the best skills and dive head first into solving the situation. But a team problem also requires a team solution. So as a manager, even at this point you have to delegate work effectively. Distribute tasks to subordinates and clearly communicate to everyone how you will collectively solve the problem.
Try to detach yourself from the situation
Try to look at the problem without emotion. As if it is not happening to you, but to someone else. Try to detach yourself from the problem and just think rationally. You will never be able to achieve complete detachment. But you must avoid letting yourself be carried away by emotions. A manager who shouts and swears at everyone or, on the contrary, weeps is unlikely to be much of a support to subordinates.
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