Words to Save the Day – The Most Powerful and Simple Algorithm for Handling Any Crisis
Wow, what a thrill!
I’m in France, driving 140 km/h to Normandy in an Audi A9 lent to me by my client. Such peace, such power. My adrenaline is slowly fading as I lose myself in thought, until suddenly I hear, “Beep beep… Audi, pull over!”
In an instant, I run a quick checklist with myself:
Was I speeding? No.
Am I wearing a seatbelt? Yes.
Was I on my phone? No.
Did I text? No.
I pull over, and although I know I haven’t done anything illegal, I still feel a knot in my stomach, my heart pounding at 200 beats per minute.
“License, please, sir.” I hand my driver’s license and registration to the officer through the window without making eye contact.
“Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?”
Honestly, no. I was driving within the law, so that’s what I tell the officer, noticing he’s not in uniform but wearing an armband marked “POLICE.”
“Think hard! Really think! You don’t know why I stopped you?” His tone becomes stern.
I genuinely don’t know, sir.
“Because I missed you, you fool!” the officer yells.
I glance out the window and recognize Alex. “Alex Pinto! No way! I didn’t know you were a cop.”
“Yes, I’m a commander in the serious crimes unit. Challenging, but you know me; it’s what I dreamed of my whole life.”
Alex Pinto is a childhood friend. We grew up together in elementary school, and even back then, he declared he’d be a cop one day to catch the bad guys. We drifted apart in middle school but met again in high school when I joined a self-defense organization that, in collaboration with the Israeli embassy, protected Jewish sites like synagogues and events like protests or conferences. We trained about fifteen hours a week, guided by security personnel from the embassy and krav maga instructors from Israel.
After a long hug, we started playfully “fighting” on the side of the road, reliving old times. Even though Alex is taller and stronger than I am, I managed to pin him, playfully choking him from behind. Alex wrestled, trying to flip over or poke my eyes, but he had no chance. I knew he’d have to tap out, signaling surrender.
Alex was panting, and I was feeling quite triumphant. Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me:
“On your knees, hands behind your head.” I looked up to see three uniformed officers with guns drawn, approaching.
Wait… what…
“On the ground, right now!”
I released Alex and knelt down.
Alex remained silent, knowing he’d be fine. Meanwhile, I saw the tension rising in the officers, and I quickly realized that someone had to say something really fast, or things would go very badly for me.
Here’s what I said. You might respond differently, but here’s my exact line:
“My name is Haim Deutsch.
I’m a childhood friend of Alex, standing here.
Alex, please, say something to these guys… now, because I’m having a panic attack!”
I knew my response had to be short and direct (27 words).
I understood that defensiveness or trying to explain would only make the officers more agitated.
I needed to clarify the situation as simply as possible and prompt Alex to act—fast.
And if we step back from this encounter on a French roadside to our daily lives, we’ll realize how often we encounter similar situations with our employees and team members. Most of these aren’t life-or-death situations, but one wrong word can quickly lead to frustration, unresolved issues, and a feeling of being misunderstood.
In my Catalyst Leader training series, which I teach to managers in organizations, I emphasize the importance of concise, impactful communication, especially when it’s critical to complete a project on time, advance a joint initiative, handle sudden crises, and more. How can you analyze a situation quickly and respond effectively, avoiding ego-driven or automatic reactions from the first blow? We don’t always get a second chance in life or in organizations.
As leaders, we must develop communication skills that are sharp, precise, and agile. We need to learn to simplify complex situations into clear messages, presenting solutions that others might not even notice.
As leaders, we must accept that problems happen—they’re part of life, of our reality, and a guarantee from Mr. Murphy. I can accept that there’s an issue blocking work, production, or delivery. But I can also embrace a solution-focused mindset: everything is solvable!
I early taught my direct reports this mantra: “Don’t come to me with excuses about why something didn’t work as expected—the supplier was delayed, time was tight, etc. (Believe me, I know how much pressure you’re under). Instead, tell me what will work, how we’ll continue, and move forward.”
This seemingly simple approach can have an immense impact on effective, concise, and solution-oriented communication. Don’t explain me why not; tell me how yes.
If there’s a problem, if something collapsed, if the project won’t finish on time, or if three officers are pointing guns at you, here’s what I suggest:
Now, the other side is ready and prepared to help:
In my opinion, this is the most effective algorithm for handling a crisis, and this is the way of the Catalyst Leader.
If you’re wondering what happened with me, there on the roadside with my hands behind my back… well, in France as in France, we ended the event at a bar with strong drinks…
… Not for me, though. I still have a long way to go, and now’s not the time to get arrested for drunk driving.
