"Make not haste in time of trouble"

There is a saying from the Book of Ecclesiasticus (also known as the Book of Sirach, which I just learned - who knew?) in the Bible that I recently heard (Ecclesiasticus 2:2):

Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.

I have no clue about the original context of this passage (Sunday School was a LONG time ago), but I think the message in this passage is certainly applicable to crisis leadership.  There are a number of important key principles to effective leadership during a crisis.  For example, active, clear, and almost constant communication throughout the crisis is critically important.  Crisis leaders should remain calm and stay positive, with the caveat that leaders should also be realistic and not sugarcoat the facts.  As the leadership guru John Maxwell said:

"The pessimist complains about the wind.  The optimist expects it to change.  The leader adjusts the sails."

Finally, crisis leaders need to be able to make the right decisions in the absence of perfect information.  One of the paradoxes of crisis leadership is that there is often an incredible amount of information coming in, all at the same time.  However, some of the information may be only partially correct or even completely wrong.  Moreover, the amount of time that leaders have to make decisions is often compressed, and as a result, leaders may be forced to rely upon instinct more than ever.

Unfortunately, the "Goldilocks Principle" about the amount of information needed to make the correct decision applies here.  Leaders must balance the need for information with the need to make quick decisions.  Pure gut instinct isn't necessarily the right approach, though waiting too long to get the right amount of information or process the information that is available can lead to "paralysis by analysis."  Therefore, the amount of information and analysis required to make the right decision lies somewhere in the middle ("Not enough" versus "Too much").

Most experts would recommend that leaders should slow down to make better decisions during a crisis (in other words, "make not haste in time of trouble).  Taking a more measured approach, especially when a leader's emotions are running high can be an effective way for making tough decisions during a crisis.  One of my favorite examples of this is a story from President Abraham Lincoln, who made many important decisions during a time of national crisis.  The Union forces had just won an important victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, which was a critical turning point in the Civil War.  Rather than pressing the Union advantage, the commanding general of the Army of the Potamac, General George Meade remained cautious - in Lincoln's mind, overly so - which allowed the Army of Northern Virginia to escape.

President Lincoln had been frustrated with the fact that many of his generals were overly cautious and conservative.  Here was a general who had actually won an important victory, yet, again in Lincoln's mind, he had failed to follow his victory and deliver a decisive blow to the Confederate army.  Lincoln wrote General Meade a letter in which he expressed his profound disappointment that Meade had let the Confederate army escape.  The letter reads as follows:

Executive Mansion
Washington, July 14, 1863

Major General Meade,

I have just seen your despatch to Gen. Halleck, asking to be relieved of your command, because of a supposed censure of mine-- I am very -- very -- grateful to you for the magnificent success you gave the cause of the country at Gettysburg; and I am sorry now to be the author of the slightest pain to you-- But I was in such deep distress myself that I could not restrain some expression of it-- I had been oppressed nearly ever since the battles at Gettysburg, by what appeared to be evidences that your self, and Gen. Couch, and Gen. Smith, were not seeking a collision with the enemy, but were trying to get him across the river without another battle. What these evidences were, if you please, I hope to tell you at some time, when we shall both feel better. The case, summarily stated is this. You fought and beat the enemy at Gettysburg; and, of course, to say the least, his loss was as great as yours-- He retreated; and you did not; as it seemed to me, pressingly pursue him; but a flood in the river detained him, till, by slow degrees, you were again upon him. You had at least twenty thousand veteran troops directly with you, and as many more raw ones within supporting distance, all in addition to those who fought with you at Gettysburg; while it was not possible that he had received a single recruit; and yet you stood and let the flood run down, bridges be built, and the enemy move away at his leisure, without attacking him. And Couch and Smith! The latter left Carlisle in time, upon all ordinary calculation, to have aided you in the last battle at Gettysburg; but he did not arrive-- More At the end of more than ten days, I believe twelve, under constant urging, he reached Hagerstown from Carlisle, which is not an inch over fifty-five miles, if so much. And Couch's movement was very little different--

Again, my dear general, I do not believe you appreciate the magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lee's escape-- He was within your easy grasp, and to have closed upon him would, in connection with the our other late successes, have ended the war-- As it is, the war will be prolonged indefinitely. If you could not safely attack Lee last Monday, how can you possibly do so South of the river, when you can take with you very few more then two thirds of the force you then had in hand? It would be unreasonable to expect, and I do not expect you can now effect much. Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed immeasurably because of it--

I beg you will not consider this a prosecution, or persecution of yourself-- As you had learned that I was dissatisfied, I have thought it best to kindly tell you why.

[ Endorsed on Envelope by Lincoln:]
To Gen. Meade, never sent, or signed.

Lincoln was clearly upset.  He wrote General Meade to express his profound disappointment, which in all likelihood, had it been received, would have led to Meade's resignation.  Rather than send the letter, however, Lincoln placed it in an envelope and filed it away in his desk.  He never sent the letter!  He realized that it would have been a mistake to have send the letter.  Better to keep his emotions to himself and keep Meade in place rather than sending the letter and losing a general who had won an important battle.

It's almost the same today, when leaders exercise restraint before sending an e-mail or Tweet about something.  Better to let emotions calm and wait to send.  The same is true for making decisions.  Sometimes, the best approach is the cautious and conservative one.  Don't make an important decision when your emotions are running high. 

I believe that was what was meant by the author of the passage in the Book of Ecclesiasticus.  "Make not haste in time of trouble."  Just wait a little bit and see how you feel when you've calmed down.  Then, and only then, make your decision.