5 Take Action

Don’t Panic! was created to help people within organizations handle stressful situations in a way that is positive and productive. We present 5 key elements of a constructive response to circumstances that might intimidate or frighten us. Designed to be used in a work or academic environment, the principles of this program can also be applied in our
personal lives.

In this entertaining and thoughtful video cooking serves as a metaphor for working through a challenge together, as nine fascinating people who have successfully navigated stressful situations at work come together to cook a meal. After the flames die down, the participants enjoy the meal they’ve created and share what they’ve learned from their dialogue.

Program Contents

The program examines five key morsels of advice:

• Know Yourself : Know what you know, what you don’t know, and the difference between these. Self-awareness is critical to successfully navigating challenges.
• Build Support : Develop a network of people you trust and who trust you. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback and support.
• Assess Your Situation : Realistically assess the situation you face. Filter noise and rumors from reliable information. Step back and interrogate reality.
• Take Action : Don’t be immobilized by fear. Be resilient in the face of a setback. Remember you always have options and that hope trumps fear. Look for opportunities in a crisis or difficult situation and pursue them.
• Learn from Everything : Look for learning opportunities even in what may appear as bad news. Every shadow has a light source. Find it. Learning is the ultimate benefit from a challenging situation.