Protect Your Employees, Protect Your Business: The Importance of Self-Protection Training
When I was in my 20s, I worked as a manager in a liquor store. To be specific, I was the owner's son and I was the night manager on the weekends. While most nights went by uneventfully - or, at the worst, had only a few arguments - it did put me in a precarious position. How could I manage belligerent, argumentative, and often inebriated customers while maintaining an air of control? After all, there could be negative consequences if I wasn’t able to run a tight ship: if the business gained a reputation for unruly guests (or a belligerent manager) it could impact the store’s success. In those days, I had the body armor of youth and I was training in multiple martial arts…additionally, managers often carried a concealed firearm while on shift. What I am most thankful for, however, is the use of what I call “low-level management:” the ability to identify a potential threat and manage it early with words, paired with my confidence in my own physical skills (skills I hoped I would nev...
