Car Trouble?

This morning, when I backed out of a parking spot after a brief stop, I heard a grinding sound. I thought, Oh no, my car isn’t drivable! It seemed to be listing to one side, and my mind immediately jumped to worst-case scenarios—finding a mechanic, losing my car for the day (or longer), and all sorts of catastrophizing.

Then, the truck that was actually making all that noise drove past me. It wasn’t my car at all.

It was a great reminder of how easily we can catastrophize situations without any real evidence. When something unexpected happens, our first instinct is often panic, but taking a breath and assessing the actual facts can save us from unnecessary stress. I’ll definitely keep this in mind next time instead of worrying for nothing!

As for the other truck—I hope they get whatever’s going on checked out.

How Leaders Can Apply This Lesson

Leaders often find themselves reacting to high-pressure situations, sometimes assuming the worst before all the facts are in. Here are three ways to keep unnecessary stress from clouding your judgment:

• Pause Before Reacting – When a problem arises, take a moment before jumping to conclusions. Quick, emotional reactions can lead to poor decision-making. A deep breath and a fact-check can go a long way.
• Separate Facts from Assumptions – Ask yourself: What do I actually know, and what am I assuming? Making decisions based on evidence rather than fear helps leaders stay strategic rather than reactive.
• Model Calm for Your Team – Your response sets the tone. If you panic, your team will too. If you remain calm and methodical, you create a culture where challenges are addressed with clarity and confidence.

Taking a few seconds to pause and assess a situation can prevent wasted time, unnecessary stress, and ineffective leadership. After all, sometimes the problem isn’t even yours to fix—just like the noise wasn’t coming from my car!