| As a normal part of business, most companies | | | | incidents involving employee violence in postal and |
| take steps to make sure that their employees | | | | other government workplaces than anywhere |
| are healthy and safe. They know its not just the | | | | else? |
| right thing to do, but by providing benefits like | | | | The Answer: The perpetrator knows that he or |
| insurance, wellness programs, continuing education | | | | she will not encounter any resistance from their |
| opportunities, and the like, they are providing for | | | | victims. In the case of government buildings |
| their own growth and future potential. For the | | | | where firearms are federally prohibited, disgruntled |
| smartest, it just makes good business sense. | | | | employees know that they will not be stopped by |
| More and more businesses are adding the | | | | anyone before they have finished what they |
| additional benefit of in-house self-defense training. | | | | came to do. |
| Whether in the form of seminars, on-going | | | | Workplace violence is growing at an alarming rate |
| courses, or video programs, companies are seeing | | | | around the world. While many of us have been |
| the value in providing important life-saving skills to | | | | taught that we must put up with the violent |
| their employees benefits package. So much so | | | | tempers and childish tantrums of those around us |
| that they're becoming regular occurances in many | | | | who cannot control their own disappointment and |
| organizations. | | | | frustration, this is no reason that employees |
| It's easy to see why those involved in the law | | | | working with or near them should have to submit |
| enforcement and security industries would have | | | | to physical outbursts or abuse. In fact, it has been |
| such training, but who else has to worry about | | | | proven that, when in a situation where the |
| self-defense issues? In fact, companies, like | | | | aggressor might be damaged himself by initiating |
| hospitals, real-estate companies, and those who | | | | an assault... |
| have employees required to travel as a part of | | | | ...they avoid such actions altogether! |
| their job, are taking a proactive role in making | | | | The costs many companies are shouldering that |
| sure that valuable members of their team are | | | | are associated with dealing with the aftermath of |
| safe. The number of companies who have or | | | | an incident involving workplace violence are |
| regularly experience violence in the workplace, | | | | staggering. Just as insurance companies hire |
| criminal attacks, and now, the added threat of | | | | private investigators to protect themselves |
| international terrorism, is increasing at an alarming | | | | against fraudulent worker's compensation claims, a |
| rate. | | | | small investment in quality training today can |
| Other than the primary benefit of teaching your | | | | prevent catastrophic losses in the future - losses |
| employees how to defend themselves against a | | | | that can literally cripple a company. |
| physical attack - there are very significant | | | | 5. Self-defense training improves creative problem |
| reasons why your company might want to offer | | | | solving skills. |
| such a program. Just as with any insurance, the | | | | Due to its very nature of having to deal with the |
| benefit is in the peace of mind and knowledge | | | | chaos associated with an attack situation, self |
| that you're protected. But, unlike most insurance | | | | defense training helps employees learn to |
| policies that are virtually invisible until damage | | | | creatively overcome obstacles to success. Very |
| occurs, the secondary benefits of providing | | | | often, this type of training translates into greater |
| self-defense training in your workplace are readily | | | | problem-solving abilities, on the job creativity, and |
| apparent almost from the beginning. | | | | "outside the box" thinking. Employees learn to |
| Here are 8 great reasons to include personal | | | | think "strategically" rather than temporarily. That |
| protection training as a part of your organization's | | | | means that their ideas and system-development |
| staff training agenda. | | | | work provides the company with more than a |
| 1. Employees who are capable of protecting | | | | temporary fix to problems and concerns, but |
| themselves are more confident. | | | | instead, companies benefit from employees who |
| This directly affects their level of performance | | | | can see the "cause-and-effect" nature of their |
| and therefor their leadership potential. Untrained | | | | actions and decisions and stop waisting time, |
| individuals tend to avoid situations where they are | | | | money, and other resources in having to |
| required to be open to new situations and people. | | | | repeatedly "replace bandaides." |
| Especially in the world of sales, emergency | | | | 6. Martial Arts-based self defense training |
| medical services, and management, where an | | | | enhances teamwork. |
| employee may be required to remain calm under | | | | Often, emotional and psychological barriers to |
| pressure, martial arts-based self defense training | | | | personal achievement prevent a team from |
| helps to build confidence, increased self-esteem, | | | | productively working together. A properly |
| and a greater sense of leadership presence. The | | | | structured program allows team members to |
| simple truth is that: Confident people are more | | | | come together in a supportive environment to |
| able to overcome obstacles and "get the job | | | | learn important skills like creative problem-solving |
| done." | | | | and focusing under pressure. With the help of |
| 2. People who feel safer are less prone to the | | | | co-workers, individuals with weaker skill sets learn |
| debilitating effects of stress. | | | | to overcome those obstacles and fears that are |
| Stress is the number one factor in many illnesses | | | | holding them back, and safely become leaders in |
| and a leading cause of on-the-job accidents. The | | | | their own right within their groups. |
| increased confidence, coupled with an increased | | | | 7. Employees learn to focus under pressure. |
| sense of calm, can mean a long-term cost | | | | Many jobs are considered high-pressure by nature. |
| savings for an employer. Less stress means less | | | | Deadlines, last-minute problem-solving issues, and |
| stress-related illnesses, less lost time due to illness, | | | | emergency situations can cause some employees |
| fewer accidents, and higher productivity. Without | | | | and team members to literally freeze-up under |
| the burden of stress-related paralysis, employees | | | | pressure. A good program will expose your people |
| are more energetic, quick-thinking, and relaxed - | | | | to drills and exercises that will allow them to |
| making them more productive members of your | | | | achieve a level of comfort, and an increased |
| organization. | | | | ability to focus on the objective at hand. |
| 3. Martial Arts-based training has been shown to | | | | 8. Employees experience a greater sense of |
| improve employee discipline and moral. | | | | happiness and peace of mind. |
| Studies by the US Marine Corps, traditional known | | | | Happier employees translates into many benefits |
| for a high degree of discipline, moral, and e'sprit de | | | | for your company. For starters, individuals who |
| corps, have reported that their new martial | | | | have a pleasant demeanor and a positive outlook |
| arts-based self-defense program has helped to | | | | on life are less likely to take offense with regards |
| create even greater levels of self-discipline, a | | | | to misunderstandings. They don't feel threatened |
| stronger work ethic, and more psychologically | | | | by changes which inevitably occur within every |
| well-adjusted Marines. The truth is that, feelings of | | | | business environment, or lash out at others |
| weakness, social anxiety, and concern for one's | | | | verbally, physically, or emotionally when things |
| safety, by any one individual, causes stress on | | | | don't go smoothly. Martial arts and self defense |
| the entire team. Many employees live in fear of | | | | training has long been known to be a source of |
| making the wrong decisions, some care little for | | | | personal empowerment, confidence, and the |
| their job - expecting to be paid for time rather | | | | ability for a person to be in control of him or |
| than productivity - and others suffer from poor | | | | herself. People like this naturally attract and affect |
| interpersonal skills. The difference between a | | | | others in a positive way and can only be a |
| company with a workforce made up of positive, | | | | valuable asset to a company that is focused on |
| powerful, and productive people and one that is | | | | growth and future prosperity. |
| not, is often the difference between a great | | | | If you found this article to be useful, please take |
| ocean-liner and a sinking ship. | | | | a second and rate it. This lets the editors and the |
| 4. Self Defense training can dissuade workplace | | | | author know what you think and may lead to |
| violence before it even starts. | | | | more information on this topic. |
| Question: Why are their more gun-related | | | | |