Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-recognized workplace violence defensive tactics trainer who offers effective programs which combine the knowledge, attitudes, and skills that you'll need to survive a real-world workplace violence attack. He is available to speak at your next event or company training, as a seminar leader, or he can help you produce your company-branded video training program. He can be reached through his website at http://www.wcinternational.com or his international office in the US at 570-988-2228.
Are you a manager concerned with the possibility of an employee becoming violent during a termination? You're not alone! Workplace violence is a growing concern and the number 1 cause of job-related deaths for managers today!
Learning simple self defense strategies often has nothing to do with having to physically fight off an aggressive employee. Of course, it's always a good idea to know at least some basic self defense techniques, regardless of whether we're talking about dealing with workplace violence or any other aspect of your life.
There is an assault every 17 seconds in the United States! And, the reality is that 17 - 20 people will be murdered on the job, and another 1,500 will be assaulted, raped, stabbed, shot, or beaten - this week alone!
In this article, I'll be sharing some useful tips and suggestions that you can use to avoid becoming the victim of an aggressive employee that you have been forced to fire.
Warning: Not using any or all of these suggestions increases your risk of being attacked by an aggressive employee and being an accomplice to your own butt-kicking!
1. Determine the place and time for the meeting! Avoid reacting emotionally and "firing the person on the spot," if at all possible. Reacting from an emotional mindset can narrow your vision and blind you to the clues that would signal an impending attack!
2. Don't trap yourself with an employee! If you cannot conduct your termination meeting in a room with a secondary exit, at a minimum always position yourself so that you are closest to the door and can get out!
3. Avoid making assumptions about an employee's intentions. Countless managers have died or been seriously injured by an employee they described as "not capable of such a thing."
4. Stay alert and focused. Make eye contact and don't waiver. If need be, such as if the employee is intimidating, script out and practice what you're going to say. Often, maintaining a stronger presence - without being cocky and arrogant - will allow you to control the situation and deter violence.
5. Remember what you are doing. A termination is an attack, albeit a passive one, on another human being. While many will see it as punishment, regardless of what the employee may have done to deserve the termination, many employees will see your actions as taking something from them or even making them look bad. You must be prepared to deal with any violence thrown at you on any level!
6. Use strategic use of your environment. If you find yourself in a workplace violence situation, make use of furnishings and other obstacles to make it more difficult for him to get at you. Remember that, regardless of company policy and all of your zero tolerance statements and banned weapons lists, your attacker may be armed. You should know how to effectively use cover, concealment, and escape tactics to protect yourself from being shot, struck, or otherwise attacked!
One of the greatest threats to anyone - including managers - is having a mindset based in denial and the belief that violence will never happen to them. Your position as a manager, while giving you certain powers within your company, WILL NOT protect you from an aggressive employee or falling victim to a workplace violence attack!
The fact that police officers, who are carrying guns, night sticks, and pepper spray, still get attacked - should tell you that your position as a manager...
...means absolutely nothing to an aggressive employee intent on introducing you to the world of workplace violence!
If you're serious about getting workplace violence defensive tactics training into your facility, I recommend that you read the manual called, "Attack-Proof Your Facility! And the best part is that you can get it free at:
Workplace Violence Training
Learning simple self defense strategies often has nothing to do with having to physically fight off an aggressive employee. Of course, it's always a good idea to know at least some basic self defense techniques, regardless of whether we're talking about dealing with workplace violence or any other aspect of your life.
There is an assault every 17 seconds in the United States! And, the reality is that 17 - 20 people will be murdered on the job, and another 1,500 will be assaulted, raped, stabbed, shot, or beaten - this week alone!
In this article, I'll be sharing some useful tips and suggestions that you can use to avoid becoming the victim of an aggressive employee that you have been forced to fire.
Warning: Not using any or all of these suggestions increases your risk of being attacked by an aggressive employee and being an accomplice to your own butt-kicking!
1. Determine the place and time for the meeting! Avoid reacting emotionally and "firing the person on the spot," if at all possible. Reacting from an emotional mindset can narrow your vision and blind you to the clues that would signal an impending attack!
2. Don't trap yourself with an employee! If you cannot conduct your termination meeting in a room with a secondary exit, at a minimum always position yourself so that you are closest to the door and can get out!
3. Avoid making assumptions about an employee's intentions. Countless managers have died or been seriously injured by an employee they described as "not capable of such a thing."
4. Stay alert and focused. Make eye contact and don't waiver. If need be, such as if the employee is intimidating, script out and practice what you're going to say. Often, maintaining a stronger presence - without being cocky and arrogant - will allow you to control the situation and deter violence.
5. Remember what you are doing. A termination is an attack, albeit a passive one, on another human being. While many will see it as punishment, regardless of what the employee may have done to deserve the termination, many employees will see your actions as taking something from them or even making them look bad. You must be prepared to deal with any violence thrown at you on any level!
6. Use strategic use of your environment. If you find yourself in a workplace violence situation, make use of furnishings and other obstacles to make it more difficult for him to get at you. Remember that, regardless of company policy and all of your zero tolerance statements and banned weapons lists, your attacker may be armed. You should know how to effectively use cover, concealment, and escape tactics to protect yourself from being shot, struck, or otherwise attacked!
One of the greatest threats to anyone - including managers - is having a mindset based in denial and the belief that violence will never happen to them. Your position as a manager, while giving you certain powers within your company, WILL NOT protect you from an aggressive employee or falling victim to a workplace violence attack!
The fact that police officers, who are carrying guns, night sticks, and pepper spray, still get attacked - should tell you that your position as a manager...
...means absolutely nothing to an aggressive employee intent on introducing you to the world of workplace violence!
If you're serious about getting workplace violence defensive tactics training into your facility, I recommend that you read the manual called, "Attack-Proof Your Facility! And the best part is that you can get it free at:
Workplace Violence Training
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Teaching your Child Self-defense When your Child Doesn't Want to Learn Self-defense
- Self-defense: Using Your Body's Own Super Self Preservation Modes
- Learning Self Defense Fighting Techniques
- Are Mace Pepper Batons A Good Self Defense Weapon?
- Self Defense and Self Protection 411
- What Every Real Estate Agent Should Know About Self Defense
- Reality-Based Self-Defense: 19 Principles You Must Know for Surviving a Real-World Street Attack
- Stun Guns Provide Self-Defense in Style
Streamline Any Project With Construction Management Software
By: Samuel Daggle | 21/11/2009It isn't just huge construction companies that get overwhelmed with the many details of a project. Even a seemingly simple home addition has a large numbers of variables to attend to. Permits must be secured, foundation laid, the room must be framed and wired, and finally finished. Throw in HVAC...
Retail Boutiques, the Holidays, and the Economy
By: John Garvey | 21/11/2009How boutiques can keep garment racks stocked when they can't get a loan for the inventory that they need. A rain check on a garment rack goes a long way.
How to Practice Downsizing Without the Negative Effects
By: Adrianna Noton | 21/11/2009When there is a downturn in the economy and sales start to plummet, one of the first things many businesses start to do is downsize in an effort to curb costs. Since the early 1980's, this has become a common practice for many businesses. The negative effect on employees is...
The Benefits of Telemanagement
By: Shelley Veazie | 20/11/2009Are you looking for a way to reduce wasteful spending and simplify telecommunication operations within your business at the same time? That's exactly what telemanagement systems are used for... and this is a service highly recommended for businesses of any size. What, Exactly, Is Telemanagement? Telemanagement is a computer based system that...
Why Projects Fail? Part 3
By: projectmanuk | 20/11/2009This article deals with the third of the OGC’s eight causes of project failure: insufficient or ineffective engagement with project stakeholders.
Top Seven Mastery Principles to building a $1,000,000+ Enterprise
By: Baljeet | 20/11/2009Are you aware of the single most powerful asset in your business. Is it money. Is it employees. Is it your credentials or intellectual knowledge. Is it your products or services. No, actually, it is none of these. Your single most important business asset is your MIND ... more specifically, your mindset. Your business only grows as quickly as you, your mind and your thinking do.
Sales Force Opinion Surveys Boost Sales Performance & Reduce Sales Force Turnover
By: Howard Deutsch | 20/11/2009Conducting a sales force survey or a sales force opinion survey is a highly effective way to learn about what is causing your company’s sales force to fall short of their sales potential, and what is causing sales force attrition.
Establishing a Home online Internet Business
By: durgesh02 | 20/11/2009The difference between success and failure in building a home Internet business is financial planning. It is actually a clear difference between online and off line business endeavors. Most people starting an offline business take a great deal of time and energy building a solid business plan and determining exactly how much money will be spent on what, and where. However, this is not true for many people who are building a home internet business.
Workplace Violence Training - Protecting in-Home Medical Caregivers From Violence on the Job!
By: Jeffrey M. Miller | 12/11/2009 | Ask an ExpertAre you an administrator or supervisor concerned about workplace violence touching your in-home nurses or other medical professionals? I can certainly understand why you would be.
Workplace Violence Training - 5 Ways to Get Life-Saving Self Defense Training to Your Employees!
By: Jeffrey M. Miller | 12/11/2009 | Ask an ExpertAre you looking to add self defense training to your company's workplace violence training? Well, you're not alone. Many company's are realizing that the standard workplace violence "shell" policy that has become the norm in the business world has a huge hole in it! This article gives you 5 avenues that you can use to add defensive tactics training to your employee's training benefits.
Workplace Violence Doesn't Always Occur on Company Property! Defense Training For Utility Workers
By: Jeffrey M. Miller | 12/11/2009 | Ask an ExpertContrary to popular belief, workplace violence does not always involve one employee attacking another. Another popular misconception is that workplace violence must occur within your company walls for it to be considered such. Put these two misconceptions together and you will see that there is a group of workers who often go without the necessary training to be protected against a workplace violence attack. And these employees are - utility workers!
Workplace Violence - Critical Tips For Managers to Avoid Becoming the Victim of a Workplace Attack!
By: Jeffrey M. Miller | 12/11/2009 | Human ResourcesEveryday, managers are injured and killed from a workplace violence attack. In fact, workplace violence is the #1 cause of job-related deaths for managers! Here are some life-saving steps that you can take to avoid being attacked by an aggressive employee and becoming the victim of violence in the workplace!
6 Tips For Protecting Yourself Against a Workplace Violence Attack During an Employee Firing!
By: Jeffrey M. Miller | 12/11/2009 | ManagementAre you a manager concerned with the possibility of an employee becoming violent during a termination? Workplace violence is a growing concern and the number 1 cause of job-related deaths for managers today! This article explores some useful tips and suggestions that you can use to avoid becoming the victim of an aggressive employee that you have been forced to fire.
Reality-Based Self-Defense: A 2-Fold Approach For Successful Self-Protection
By: Jeffrey M. Miller | 19/10/2009 | Martial ArtsMany practitioners, including karate and so-called self-defense experts really have no idea where to start when it comes to mastering the skills needed for protecting yourself against a real-world brutal attacker. This article takes outlines the two-fold approach that I recommend to clients who are serious about winning a brutal assault.
Self-defense: the Role of Your Emotions in Surviving a Brutal Self-defense Attack
By: Jeffrey M. Miller | 22/01/2009 | Self ImprovementMost self-defense and martial arts instructors avoid the emotions altogether. Others limit their focus on a gross over-simplification of emotional response during an attack situation. But, beyond being scared or angry, what role do the emotions play in handling a potentially deadly situation?