Let People Do Their Jobs, Even If You Think You Can Do It Better

As a lifeguard, I interact with many people in a day, whether those people are co-workers, bosses, coaches, or patrons. There's a huge variety of people that come to the pool. Some of them are in the military, teachers, lawyers, retired, and so many others. We also get a lot of first responders, doctors, and physical therapists as well.

The other day, one of our patrons had a medical emergency, one that lifeguards are well prepared for. Suddenly, an off-duty firefighter jumped in and started giving orders, telling lifeguards to do some things they knew weren't the right thing to do. 9-1-1 was called and they arrived promptly before anything else was done.

This man didn't need to help, but I understand that he felt like he needed to. I always feel obligated to help in emergency situations even when I'm off-duty, but I know when I'm needed and when they have everything under control. The lifeguards on duty had everything under control.

The urge to help others and take leadership control is strong in a lot of people, including myself, but sometimes it will do nothing but make matters worse.

This isn't just a problem in the first responder line of work. This occurs everywhere. Taking over people's jobs isn't cool, it's just annoying. Especially if you're doing it wrong.

If someone is put in a specific position, it's because they probably have training and experience to be there. Whoever put them there believed they could do the job well.

Let them do their job! Some people go to school, pay thousands of dollars, sit through trainings upon trainings and classes upon classes, and spend years learning and preparing to do their jobs. Let them get their money's worth.

If you absolutely have to do something to help, ask if anything needs to be done. Sometimes people will say yes, sometimes, they'll say no.

If you want to help bad enough, you will do whatever needs to be done, even if it means standing out of the way.

There is no problem with helping if someone asks or says they need help, but taking over someone's job just because you think you can do it better isn't the answer.