In 1991, I became a certified instructor thru Criminal Justice Training and Standards Division of the State of North Carolina so I could teach Basic Law Enforcement Training Recruits (Police Academy) how to survive. My mission in teaching a block of instruction was to say or do one thing that might make the difference between life and death.

When I opened up my canine training to SAR Volunteers, I went at it with the same mindset. If there was just one thing that I could do or say that would make a difference for the dog handler out in the field, then I had done my job. I teach because I love to instruct people and show them how to make a difference. It's my little piece of the puzzle and it's what I love to do.

When students come to my classes, there are a few things I demand from them. First, come with an open mind and be ready to learn. Second, leave the politics at the door. For it is the politics of SAR that will interfere with the learning process quicker than anything else. 

I love teaching water work, but my second love is leadership and team building seminars. As you go thru this world, you can tackle challenges and disagreements within the team structure with a "constructive spirit of discontent" or a "destructive spirit of discontent." Many get sucked down into that pool of negativity without realizing that they are there because they are convinced in their mind that their negativity is the truth and must be told. They spin, in a whirlpool of negative thought, talk, and behavior because they feel that an injustice has been done and instead of dealing with the issue constructively, the behavior becomes destructive to all involved. This behavior  does nothing to address the real issue, which is the feeling that a violation of trust has occurred. 

A man is walking down the street and falls in a hole. He can't find a way out...no ladder, no rope, just concrete wall. His doctor walks by and he yells, "Hey doc, its me. I'm down in this hole and I can't get out. Can ya help me?" The doc says, "sure" and pulls out a prescription pad and writes a prescription and tosses it in the hole. A little while later the man's preacher walks by. He yells, "Hey preacher, its me. I'm down in this hole and can't find a way out. Can you help me?" Preacher says "no problem, my son" and stops and prays and then continues on. Then his friend walks by.  The man yells "Hey Jonni, its me. I'm down in this hole and I can't find a way out. Can ya help me?"  Well, Jonni jumps down in the hole and says "How ya doin?" and is immediately criticized by the man...."what are you doing? Are you crazy? Now you're stuck with me...I told you there is no way out?" Jonni says to the friend, "Man, I ain't your doctor, I ain't your preacher.  I'm your friend. I've been here before. I know the way out." :))

So, if your team has a disagreement that perhaps begins with a disciplinary action by a team against one of its members and resulted in the resignation of the member from that team and this disagreement manifests into a public display of negativity, personal insults, and professional challenges, it needs to stop. The public airing of personal disagreements is unprofessional and does nothing to promote the purpose of search and rescue.

Now I've been here before and I'm telling you the way out. If you choose to leave a team, the best way to ensure your success is to promote what you can do in a positive light rather than criticize your former team. As long as you are spinning in that pool of negativity, your energy will be expended for the bad rather than conserved for the good. And you are stuck there, until you decide to make a difference and not let all of the negative feelings you possess control your life.

Most issues are not about training, standards, bylaws or procedures, or what is right for the victim....it is about being hurt, feeling like a trust was violated, and not knowing what to do to feel better. 

Leave the politics at the door. It does nothing to get the job done and does everything to interfere with the mission.

Jonni Joyce