Random thought on Life, Judo Olympics, Judo Self Defense, The Art or Judo Kata, Judo An International Sport. Things that inspire or annoy me or things that I just had to write down.Even A Life Guard Needs Emotional Safety
I had an incredible complement today whilst I was lifeguarding at the local pool (Yes I do things other than Judo).
 |
| Stand Tall: Respect and Affect Click Here For More Information |
One of the customers came up to me and said: "I don't know how you put up with the %$@&#@$ you do around here". He was, of course, referring to the sometimes verbal abuse that a lifeguard gets just doing their job. It's is amazing just how few people like to be told that they are doing the wrong thing. And of course, there are the things that go wrong around the centre that are completely out of your control but you are the viable presence and therefore the target of all frustration.
Don't get me wrong I enjoy my job and the vast majority of the customers are really great. Just like the one that gave me the compliment. I get a great sense of pride and satisfaction in keeping people safe. But I can tell some stories and sometimes I have and will in my swimming blog. But that is not the point here.
Coping Skills
Obviously, my martial arts training has a lot to do with my coping skills at the pool and it helps that there are therefore few situations in which I feel truly threatened. So I have never really thought about what I do to manage my own internal conflicts when I am confronted with difficult clients. I just do. I have a sense of emotional safety that means I am not threatened as easily as some. Unfortunately, that is not of much help to anyone who doesn't have all those years of martial arts training.
In my Self Defence Classes For Ladies, I outline staying calm and how to do it. But that is in the context of self-defence and not every situation is a self-defence situation.
Over the years I have come across a large variety of methods on how to stay calm in a crisis or when you are being verbally attacked. This article talks about emotional safety. It strikes me as some of the better methods.
No comments:
Post a Comment