Sometimes, job opportunities come accompanied with various challenges that are quite hard to deal with. When being part of a company suffering from big problems in terms of cost overrun, loss-making unit, weakening customer loyalty, higher attrition, decreasing employee trust, or other similar problems, you should act wisely and know which attitude to take.

Experience and research show that there are six great attributes that would help you get through this mess:

Avoid distancing yourself emotionally: 

Difficult and unfamiliar circumstances can make leaders feel vulnerable. To combat their anxiety, they actively avoid being implicated in the mess in subtle, but damaging ways.

However, the soonest they accept that they are being part of this mess, the quicker they find ways to solve it.

Never blame others on the mess, handle it without looking back: 

Since those who took former decisions are no longer present to take the blame, there is no need or gain in blaming them. So, in such circumstances, it’s better to say: ‘We cannot change the past, so let’s find a way to move with less damage to the future.’

Do not focus on your past successes and achievements: 

Do not remind people of your past achievements. What is important to them is how you deal with this mess. So, better to act not talk, even if you act based on your previous experience.

Distinguish between self-promotion and requesting real help:

When companies face problems, employees are always afraid of losing their job, so they tend to be cautious when suggesting any idea in fear of losing their source of living.

Thus, the leader should ensure that they are allowed to share ideas without fear; this would allow the best ideas to emerge and be adopted.

Test the reliability of your data:

Make sure that the data provided is correct, unless you want to build your decisions on a false background. You can also consider external hiring of neutral specialists or audits to make sure that the data is accurate.

Be transparent regarding the changes you will make: 

Consider making only urgent changes first, then when you are totally aware of the situation, start making more changes that reflect the need to make things progress and save the company from the mess it is facing.

Taking these advises into consideration will help you make the change and start focusing on how to deal with the mess and overcome it.