No High Pressure Reactions!

Remember, when confronting other people -- especially when there is the possibility of things becoming volatile in words or actions don't give in to high pressure reactions -- even if you are provoked.


I'll never forget how a security guard learned this the hard way. He  was doing a fantastic job of directing traffic at a major post office construction site here in Vancouver. For three months he did such a good job of keeping traffic moving that many of the postal drivers were commending him.


Until the last day he was there.  On that day one of the drivers refused to stop outside the post office on his directions and began a tirade of verbal abuse calling a "toy cop"  etc.


The driver then went around him and started up the exit ramp to the building and almost  rammed into an 18 wheeler coming out of the building onto the street.


Normally the driver would have been reprimanded, but everybody soon forgot about this because the guard gave in to a high pressure reaction to this driver's tirade with one of his own screaming at the driver that she was a . . . . and shook his fist at her.


Because of this the postal driver was able to convince  the post office management and her union representative that she had been threatened by the guard  since even some of the drivers who had earlier commended him because of his superb traffic direction now turned against him and backed up their colleague because of his vulgar language and threatening actions and he was nearly fired.


In the end the security pulled him off the postal site and sent him off  to a remote construction site at a much lower rate of pay with little chance of any future promotions with that company.


So remember, no matter how much you might be provoked by others give in to such high pressure reactions. It could be dangerous -- both emotionally and physically.


This particular scenario did not have any physical consequences but some situations could. If you were lose control and lash out at somebody without thinking you could find yourself charged with the excessive use of force or assault --especially if you severely injured somebody. Stay cool and remember that your actions will always have some reaction from others. Make sure it is a positive one if possible. At least one that will not get you in trouble.