Always making a fool of myself!

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03-08-2009, 09:56 AM
Devil.Wont.Cry

Always making a fool of myself!
Before I ramble on about my problem I'll tell you a little bit of my situation.
I work as a life guard at my local sports center. I started about 3 months ago and I'm still the new person working there.

Once every month all staff have to attend staff training. Staff training lasts two hours. One hour theory and the other is in the pool.

Now onto the problem...

I started work no problems then about 3 weeks ago the manager asks me to set up the football goals at a certain time. I tell him its no problem only I forget about it. When he seen me he asked what happened and I told him the truth.

After that I keep messing up around him and the funny thing is its only him. He's the one who got me the job and he's good friends with my dad.
The sort of things I do is like dropping the files all over the floor, not realising that the showers are stuck on, asking stupid questions... you get the idea

Now I had to go staff training 8am in the morning. I knew that my manager also attends it so I kept thinking to myself "I'm going to mess up". We started with Theory first and I was fine. I did all I asked correctly and no problem.

Next was the pool. We started with some Pool side rescue and toeing (the usual stuff). Finally we had to do scenarios (sp?) in groups of 3 (A scenario is where the 3 people sit down on the chairs and the people in the pool have to act like their drowning). My group went first.

The people who had to pretend to drown etc all decided what it was and my group wasn't to know so I didn't know what to expect. Unfortunatly for me they chose a Spinal injury.

I did the usual stuff shout "Sounding the alarm, suspected spinal, life guard going in" but before I did he came back up so I thought "False alarm". Then all the people in the pool shouted "Hes only getting some air!! Save him!!"

I could see the manager watching me and I started going red and without thinking I dived in to save him. Right there I made a massive mistake. I dived in when your supposed to lower yourself in slowly for a spinal accident.

I realised what I did and the instructor stopped us all and said come to the side. So he went on about how I dived and then asked us to put the casualty onto the board. We did that no problem except when I was holding the head of the casualty the instructor, manager and othe rlife guard were talking. All I could hear was "Got, non and James" (I'm not 100% sure they said James though). I worked out what they could of said and it could be "So has James got non-competant". Non-competant or competant is written on all our reports (we dont see the reports) and is sent to all managers.

I'm not sure what happens when you get non-competant though. It could mean I have to do more staff training before I continue working or it could mean I'm getting fired so I'm panicking a bit.

To sum it up these are my problems:
- I'm always making a fool infront of the manager and no one else
- I'm really worried if I get non-competant and get fired cause there's not many jobs around these days.
You would not believe how good it feels to get all that off my chest.
Sorry if it was too long :P
+rep to best replies
03-08-2009, 10:01 AM
-Heart
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devil.Wont.Cry

Before I ramble on about my problem I'll tell you a little bit of my situation.
I work as a life guard at my local sports center. I started about 3 months ago and I'm still the new person working there.

Once every month all staff have to attend staff training. Staff training lasts two hours. One hour theory and the other is in the pool.

Now onto the problem...

I started work no problems then about 3 weeks ago the manager asks me to set up the football goals at a certain time. I tell him its no problem only I forget about it. When he seen me he asked what happened and I told him the truth.

After that I keep messing up around him and the funny thing is its only him. He's the one who got me the job and he's good friends with my dad.
The sort of things I do is like dropping the files all over the floor, not realising that the showers are stuck on, asking stupid questions... you get the idea

Now I had to go staff training 8am in the morning. I knew that my manager also attends it so I kept thinking to myself "I'm going to mess up". We started with Theory first and I was fine. I did all I asked correctly and no problem.

Next was the pool. We started with some Pool side rescue and toeing (the usual stuff). Finally we had to do scenarios (sp?) in groups of 3 (A scenario is where the 3 people sit down on the chairs and the people in the pool have to act like their drowning). My group went first.

The people who had to pretend to drown etc all decided what it was and my group wasn't to know so I didn't know what to expect. Unfortunatly for me they chose a Spinal injury.

I did the usual stuff shout "Sounding the alarm, suspected spinal, life guard going in" but before I did he came back up so I thought "False alarm". Then all the people in the pool shouted "Hes only getting some air!! Save him!!"

I could see the manager watching me and I started going red and without thinking I dived in to save him. Right there I made a massive mistake. I dived in when your supposed to lower yourself in slowly for a spinal accident.

I realised what I did and the instructor stopped us all and said come to the side. So he went on about how I dived and then asked us to put the casualty onto the board. We did that no problem except when I was holding the head of the casualty the instructor, manager and othe rlife guard were talking. All I could hear was "Got, non and James" (I'm not 100% sure they said James though). I worked out what they could of said and it could be "So has James got non-competant". Non-competant or competant is written on all our reports (we dont see the reports) and is sent to all managers.

I'm not sure what happens when you get non-competant though. It could mean I have to do more staff training before I continue working or it could mean I'm getting fired so I'm panicking a bit.

To sum it up these are my problems:

I'm always making a fool infront of the manager and no one else
I'm really worried if I get non-competant and get fired cause there's not many jobs around these days.
You would not believe how good it feels to get all that off my chest.
Sorry if it was too long :P
+rep to best replies
Well, sounds like that job isn't for you then.

Simpels :S.
03-08-2009, 10:02 AM
Devil.Wont.Cry

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Heart

Well, sounds like that job isn't for you then.

Simpels :S.

No, im fine with the job. I know what to do in emergencies etc I just made one mistake when watched by manager that could cost me my job.

Im not looking to be told it's not the job for me.
03-08-2009, 10:08 AM
-Heart

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devil.Wont.Cry

No, im fine with the job. I know what to do in emergencies etc I just made one mistake when watched by manager that could cost me my job.

Im not looking to be told it's not the job for me.

Well your saying you keep screwing up so surely this isn't the job for you :S?

I don't care if that's not what your looking for, you wanted a reply/answer and I gave you one.

Edited by invincible (Forum Moderator): Please don't be rude.
03-08-2009, 10:11 AM
lPinoy

Talk to your manager about it and encourage yourself to stay focused.
03-08-2009, 10:33 AM
luce

Relax around him you will only mess up if you think about it or avoid him as much as you can LOL but i think relaxing is the best option here
03-08-2009, 10:47 AM
LuketheDuke

need to stop your desire to please him and think calmly about the situation at hand when this manager blokey sets you a task. Before you do anything think about what to do and how you'll do it to stop yourself from doing silly things.

its what i do anyways.
03-08-2009, 10:57 AM
Dinosaurawrr

tbh.
i think you should try and talk to your manager and explain that you only mess up around him
then in future if theres another manager maybe they could be the ones to watch you instead or you guys can come to some conclusion about what to do
maybe he could stand away so you dont realise hes watching
or sumthing
hope it goes well for you
03-08-2009, 11:34 AM
Soy

get a desk job
03-08-2009, 12:09 PM
Janet Snakehole

yeah i think speaking to your manager about these issues would actually help you, i wouldn't feel embarrassed by going to them either as they will help you and respect you more for going to see them in the first place :)
03-08-2009, 12:13 PM
Devil.Wont.Cry

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Heart

Well your saying you keep screwing up so surely this isn't the job for you :S?

I don't care if that's not what your looking for, you wanted a reply/answer and I gave you one.

Edited by invincible (Forum Moderator): Please don't be rude.

Yes I may keep screwing up but only at little things like I said "dropping files". When it comes to saving people in the pool or treating injured people I know what I'm doing

Thanks to everyone who commented. I think I will have a chat with him about it
05-08-2009, 01:04 AM
-Heart

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devil.Wont.Cry

Yes I may keep screwing up but only at little things like I said "dropping files". When it comes to saving people in the pool or treating injured people I know what I'm doing

Thanks to everyone who commented. I think I will have a chat with him about it

Well there's nothing you can do then really apart from perhaps apologise to the people and explain yourself (if there is an explanation).

*REMOVED*

Edited by Robbie! (Forum Super Moderator): Please do not be rude towards other members
05-08-2009, 10:09 AM
Devil.Wont.Cry

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Heart

Well there's nothing you can do then really apart from perhaps apologise to the people and explain yourself (if there is an explanation).

*REMOVED*

No need to get a bit childish :)

I seen my manager and told him about it. He said he's sorry if he ever made me feel uncomfortable as it wasn't his intentions. Also, I offered to attend another staff training and they said thats fine and this time my manager wont be there so everythings sorted.