Performance Under Pressure: Taking Action - Defining the Challenge

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To take action in high pressure situations, you need to first make sure you've optimized how you look at the challenge. This means asking whether your perception may be distorted by emotion and revising any thoughts that are obscured. Then you should clarify what the real challenge is.
The Effective Action Method
When you have a clear idea of the challenge, you can follow a four-step method to take effective action. The first step is to question the challenge. The second step is to identify your goal. The third step is to generate and evaluate possible solutions. And the fourth step is to design an action plan.
The first step of the method, question the challenge, involves asking questions that focus on the challenge. For example, ask yourself, "How urgent is it?" This prompts you to consider a timeline for dealing with the issue at hand.
You should also ask "How much time do I have to address it?" Only by establishing the urgency of a problem and the time that's available can you evaluate how best to resolve the challenge.
Finally, ask "What additional information do I need to be able to respond to it?" This ensures that you have a detailed understanding of the problem before taking action.
Consider Ralph, an engineer managing a project to build a dam. A couple of weeks before submitting the plans, Ralph learns from the development agency that the budget has shrunk by a significant margin.
Ralph is frustrated because this agency has previously miscalculated budgets, leaving others in his position to find a solution. Ralph decides that he needs to address this problem before the design is submitted.
Ralph begins by making sure to keep the challenge in perspective. He notes that he has roughly one week to deal with this urgent issue, and may need to consult experts for technical information.
Exercise - Defining the Challenge
You're a systems analyst at a technical support company. Recently, the software you set up has been causing some problems. You've been approached by several employees experiencing difficulties, which seem to be escalating.
Which examples illustrate things you should do as part of the first step in the process of taking action?
Options:
1 - Assess how damaging the problem is.
2 - Determine how soon the malfunctioning software needs to be repaired.
3 - Speak to people from each area experiencing difficulties.
4 - Consider enlisting an external specialist.
5 - List each set of repairs needed. (...)

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