When Problems Rule the Day (and the Calendar): How to Break the Cycle of Reactive Leadership
This post is part of a series about the REALIFE 7 P’s of Business™, a framework designed to help organizations grow with intention and resilience. Business leaders will find clarity, reduce overwhelm, and create sustainable, purpose-driven success. Those who lead nonprofits, ministries, or other organizations will find that these same principles help you stay faithful to your calling, steward your resources wisely, and expand your impact in a way that sustains both you and those you serve.
If you missed the intro to this framework and its benefits, you can find it here. By exploring each of the 7 P’s in depth—Purpose, Plan, Product, Particulars, Processes, Problems, and People—you’ll see how aligning these elements will help you lead with moreclarity, ease, and effectiveness.
There’s a certain kind of tired that doesn’t go away with sleep.
It comes from being in a constant state of problem-solving. Or maybe better named “problem-chasing.” Because all-too-often we’re not really addressing or solving anything, we’re just treating symptoms and slapping band-aids on the things that are yelling the loudest.
Always reacting.
Always troubleshooting.
Always putting out fires.
And I don’t mean the exciting kind of firefighting—where there's a big dramatic issue, but then you swoop in and solve it with brilliance and flair and get to feel like a hero.
I mean the low-grade, everyday kind of firefighting that feels more like being a janitor, cleaning up messes like…
The email that never should have been sent.
The employee (or volunteer) who’s struggling but won’t speak up.
The event that went fine – but only because you pulled an all-nighter.
The conversation you’ve been avoiding that’s now unavoidable.
The thing you thought was already handled…until it wasn’t.
This is the land of reactive leadership. And it’s exhausting.
Why the Real Problems Keep Coming Back
Here’s what I’ve noticed:
When we don’t name and address our real problems—the underlying patterns and persistent pain points—we end up living in crisis mode.
We normalize the chaos.
We convince ourselves it’s just part of the job or the season or the role. We say things like:
“It’s just been one of those weeks…”
“Once this event is over, things will calm down.”
“I just need to get through this launch / quarter / fundraiser / ministry year…”
But then another fire pops up. And another. And before long, we're not leading…we're just reacting.
The Hidden Cost of Staying in Crisis Mode
When we ignore problems—or keep dealing with the same problems over and over—it costs us more than just time and energy.
It costs us:
Momentum. We lose precious progress because we’re constantly circling back to fix what’s broken.
Clarity. It's hard to focus on long-term vision when we're stuck in short-term crisis.
Confidence. We start doubting ourselves, our team, or even our calling.
Capacity. We don’t have margin to think creatively or dream big when we’re barely keeping our head above water.
And maybe worst of all?
It erodes our joy.
It makes our work feel heavy—like we're carrying a burden we didn’t sign up for.
Problems Aren’t the Enemy—Avoiding Them Is
Here’s the thing…
Problems aren’t the enemy.
Ignoring them is.
Because the truth is: problems are normal. They’re a natural part of growth. The more you stretch, the more complexity you’ll face.
More clients = more demands.
More staff = more personalities and communication quirks.
More growth = more decisions, more systems, more opportunities for things to break down.
So the goal isn’t to eliminate all problems.
It’s to become a leader who knows how to recognize, prioritize, and solve problems creatively before they become full-blown crises.
What’s the Problem Under the Problem?
So let me ask…
What problems have you been tolerating?
What’s the thing you keep putting off, downplaying, or explaining away?
What patterns keep repeating in your business, your team, or your calendar?
And what would shift if you actually paused long enough to name the real issue and start solving it?
From Firefighting to Forward-Thinking
In REALIFE SHE-EO, we don’t pretend the problems don’t exist.
We face them head-on—with courage, clarity, and a plan.
Inside the program, I teach a framework for proactive and creative problem-solving. You’ll learn how to identify the root of recurring issues, create systems that actually work, and free up your time and energy for the real work you’re called to do.
And if part of the problem is… well, you? We’ve got that covered too – with built-in accountability so you’ll actually do the work you’ve been avoiding. You won’t be doing it alone. You’ll have encouragement from other women business leaders just like you plus the support of one-on-one coaching with a guide who’s just a bit ahead on the journey.
On the other hand, if the problems you’re facing are things like “I need more clients,” “My cash flow is challenging,” or “My website isn’t doing what I need it to,” then you’re definitely in the right place in REALIFE SHE-EO because those are problems that relate to some of the other REALIFE 7 P’s of Business, e.g., Product, Particulars, Processes, etc.
By addressing all 7 P’s in one program, you’ll be able to take a holistic and comprehensive look at your business and truly diagnose – and solve – the real problems that are preventing your growth.
We don’t just talk about what’s wrong—we create space for what’s right. Because when you deal with the hard stuff, you make room for the good stuff:
Peace.
Progress.
Purpose.
Let’s Build Something Better (Instead of Just Cleaning Up the Mess)
Ready to stop cleaning up messes and start building something meaningful?
Let’s talk.
Apply now for the REALIFE SHE-EO program, and we’ll hop on a call to explore whether it’s the right fit for you in this season.
And if you’re not quite ready for the program but want to start shifting out of crisis mode?
Grab my free guide: From Stress to Success: 7 Simple Strategies to Scale and Sustain Your Business
You’ll get practical tools to start working on your business—not just in it.
Because the goal isn’t just to survive the chaos.
It’s to rise above it—with clarity, calm, and confidence.
About This Series
In this series, we’ll dive deeper into the REALIFE 7 P’s of Business™ and how they can help you shift from feeling overwhelmed to feeling aligned. Each part of the framework is designed to tackle a different aspect of your work, so you can create a business or ministry that’s sustainable and fulfilling.
This week, we focused on Problems—next up, we’ll tackle People and how to build a team or network that shares your vision and supports your work.
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