How Prepared Are You To Protect Yourself and Do Your Job Today?

I am proud of myself for continuing my daily exercise routine far beyond middle age. In today’s business environment, both good physical and mental health is required to sustain focus and to remain competitive in any profession.

One morning last week after completing my workout, I walked into the men’s locker room and noticed a gentleman who was also a regular club member. He was in the process of changing into his work attire.

During the six months I have worked out at this particular facility, I have been impressed with how hard this guy worked out at 5:00 AM in the morning. I could see in the level of determination given each exercise routine that he was a person with a professional mission in life.

As I sit down on a bench across the room from him and without staring, I suddenly could not resist observing how methodically and consciously he was putting on his outfit and the “gear” required for him to be “prepared” to protect himself and to “do his job well”.

After putting on his shoes and uniform, there was the leather belt and the duty holster. Then, also around his waist he put on the flashlight holder, the glove holder, the handcuff holder, the key holder, the baton holder, the defense spray holder, the magazine holder, the phone holder and the two-way radio holder.

Following the placement of the flashlight, gloves, handcuffs, keys, baton, defense spray and magazine of ammunition in their respective locations, he carefully holstered his radio and service revolver prior to slipping on his bullet-proof vest.

As he picked up his gym bag and walked out the door, I began to think about not just the “gear” he had to carry around all day, but also the physical strength, the mental alertness and the courage required for law enforcement professionals to be prepared to maintain order, protect us as citizens and potentially engage in life-threatening conflict.

Just like all “high performing professionals”, law enforcement officers must also be prepared to make split-second decisions that may be ethically & legally complex and may call for advanced tactics and team coordination. Adequate physical and mental preparation in all aspects of any profession is necessary to effectively get the job done.

As I sat down at my desk cuddling my third cup of coffee later that day, I could not stop thinking about the police officer and what I had observed while at the gym that morning.

In retrospect, I asked myself, “How prepared am I to protect my career and do my job well every day?” and “Have I methodically and consciously put on all of the “gear” required to be effective in my role?”

Fortunately, the “gear” that most organizational managers and leaders must put on each day does not include hand cuffs or bullet-proof vests. However, the “management and leadership gear” that’s required for us to be prepared to “do our job well” is just as important for both job protection and job performance.

Surprisingly, too many organizational professionals are not aware of the fact that the management and leadership “gear” essential to their protection and performance consist of attributes and skills which are the by-products of valuing post-graduate education, professional development and skills training…the lack of which...constitutes the “trappings” which derail the full potential of many very competent professionals.

The chart below contains a set of 14 essential attributes and skills required for all professionals in today’s work environment who desire to “reach” and “remain” at the top of their game.

How much of this "gear" did you walk into your office with this morning?

How prepared are you to protect yourself and do your job today?

Ervin (Earl) Cobb is an accomplished corporate executive, entrepreneur, author, leadership development coach and speaker. He is the author of nine published books. Five of his books provide practical and unique insights into how to prepare yourself to effectively lead and win within any organization.