Lessons From a Lifeguard Stand
Before I ever stepped into a boardroom or led safety teams across hospitals and construction sites, I spent a summer in a place most people wouldn't think of as a classroom: a lifeguard stand.
It wasn't glamorous. I didn't have a car, so I rode my bike to the waterpark every day. No fancy title, no team under me, just me, a whistle, a red rescue tube, and the responsibility of watching over strangers who trusted someone would be there if things went wrong.
That lifeguard stand taught me more about leadership, responsibility, and decision-making than I ever could've imagined at the time. And to this day, I still carry those lessons with me.
1. You're Always on the Clock (Even When It's Quiet)
The first thing you learn as a lifeguard is that complacency is dangerous. You can't just sit back and relax because it looks calm. You stay alert. You scan. You stay ready.
In leadership, it's the same. Just because things are running smoothly doesn't mean you stop paying attention. Being present and observant especially when everything seems fine is what separates reactive leaders from proactive ones.
2. Split-Second Decisions Matter
When someone's in trouble in the water, you don't get five minutes to run a risk assessment. You trust your training and you act. That taught me how important preparation is because when the moment comes, hesitation costs time, and time matters.
Whether it's responding to a crisis at work or leading during uncertainty, your ability to act with clarity and confidence can change everything.
3. Leadership Isn't About Being the Loudest
From that tall white chair, I wasn't giving speeches or running meetings. I was leading by presence, vigilance, and action. People didn't need me to talk they needed to know I was watching, aware, and ready to move.
Great leaders don't always have to be the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes, they just need to be the calmest presence in the chaos.
4. Responsibility Doesn't Wait for Recognition
Nobody claps for a lifeguard until something goes wrong. Most of the time, your work is invisible. But that's the point you're there so things don't go wrong.
That stuck with me. In every leadership role I've had since, I've remembered that true responsibility is doing the work when no one's watching and staying accountable even when it's thankless.
5. The Small Jobs Build Big Character
Lifeguarding wasn't my dream job. It wasn't high-paying or high-status. But it gave me the kind of real-world experience you can't learn in a leadership book. I learned how to show up, stay sharp, and take responsibility for lives not just tasks.
Sometimes, the roles that seem small are actually where the biggest growth happens.
That lifeguard stand was more than a job. It was the start of a mindset, lead with purpose, act with courage, and always be ready to dive in when needed.
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