Don’t get excited in engineering emergencies: keep your feet on the ground

I have found this to be sound advice in many leadership situations, not just in engineering “crises.”  

It is precisely when things go wrong that your leadership skills will be most tested.  If you help the team solve the problem in a calm, professional manner, you will inspire confidence.  The members of the team will believe in you and in each other.  You will not only help the team solve the immediate problem; you will reassure the team that it has the ability to solve other problems that may arise.  

If you add to the sense of alarm, your leadership will be counter-productive; it will take the team even longer to calm down and pursue the right path.  

You may want to use the “24-Hour Rule.”  That is, think about the problem and, when possible, don’t make a final decision for 24 hours.