By Wolfpack Learning at Stony Brook University<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership isn\u2019t always calm seas. Some days, it feels like you\u2019re treading water\u2014pulled by deadlines, expectations, and the needs of others who look to you for guidance. In moments like these, there\u2019s a lesson we can borrow from an unexpected source: lifeguards.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lifeguards are trained for high-pressure environments where the stakes are literally life and death. They must act decisively, think clearly, and protect both themselves and the people they serve. The paradox of their work is that while they move through chaos, their power comes from calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their training isn\u2019t just about swimming or strength\u2014it\u2019s about maintaining composure under pressure, regulating emotion, and preventing trauma in both themselves and those they help. And in many ways, that\u2019s the essence of leadership too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the first rules lifeguards learn is counterintuitive: save yourself first.<\/strong> If you can\u2019t breathe, you can\u2019t save anyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the same in leadership. Faculty and staff who serve, support, and care for others often try to rescue everyone around them\u2014students in distress, colleagues in conflict, or teams under strain. But leadership that burns itself out isn\u2019t sustainable. Protecting your own well-being isn\u2019t selfish; it\u2019s a prerequisite for service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking a moment to breathe before reacting, setting clear boundaries, or asking for support are all ways to ensure that you stay above the surface when the current gets strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a drowning person panics, their instinct is to grab onto the rescuer\u2014sometimes pulling the lifeguard underwater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surprisingly, the lifeguard\u2019s first move is not to fight back, but to swim down.<\/strong> By submerging briefly, they create space, break the victim\u2019s grip, and resurface with control and air. Then they reposition, regain composure, and continue the rescue safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That same principle applies to leadership. When someone\u2019s stress, frustration, or fear \u201cgrabs\u201d onto us\u2014when emotions rise, or tension builds\u2014the most effective move isn\u2019t always to push harder. It\u2019s to pause<\/em>. Step back. Take a breath. \u201cSwim down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In those few seconds of calm, clarity returns. And from clarity comes better choices\u2014both for you and those you\u2019re helping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lifeguards use their rescue tubes to keep safe distance between themselves and a struggling swimmer. That tube is a physical boundary\u2014a tool that allows the rescuer to remain steady while still offering help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaders have their own \u201crescue tubes.\u201d They might be processes, meeting norms, or emotional boundaries that allow empathy without entanglement. When we lead with both compassion and structure, we preserve the psychological safety of everyone involved\u2014including ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And when the situation overwhelms us\u2014whether it\u2019s a heated meeting, a student crisis, or a sudden change in direction\u2014we can choose to \u201csubmerge\u201d briefly. Take a moment. Gather breath. Then resurface ready to engage with empathy, steadiness, and presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s not avoidance. It\u2019s composure. It\u2019s leadership with emotional intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After every rescue, lifeguards debrief. They review what went well, what didn\u2019t, and what they learned. This debrief isn\u2019t about blame\u2014it\u2019s about resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the same way, strong leaders and teams make time to reflect after difficult moments. A short conversation after a challenging project, a reflective pause following a hard conversation, or even a quick check-in after a busy week\u2014all of these are ways to build shared learning and emotional safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Debriefing transforms stress into growth. It turns \u201cthat was tough\u201d into \u201cnext time, we\u2019ll be stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership, like lifeguarding, happens in water that never stops moving. Waves of change, emotion, and expectation are part of the work. But great leaders don\u2019t wait for still water\u2014they learn how to move gracefully through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They breathe before they act. At Wolfpack Learning, we call this human-centered leadership<\/em>. It\u2019s not about being perfect\u2014it\u2019s about being present. Because when leaders stay calm in the current, everyone around them learns to breathe easier too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you navigate your week, consider these reflections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership Development Academy | Wolfpack Learning, Stony Brook University<\/strong> The Lifeguard Lesson: Leading Calmly When the Waters Rise By Wolfpack Learning at Stony Brook University Leadership isn\u2019t always calm seas. Some days, it feels like you\u2019re treading water\u2014pulled by deadlines, expectations, and the needs of others who look to you for guidance. In moments like these, there\u2019s a lesson we can borrow from an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[570],"tags":[1208,1209,1210],"class_list":["post-6193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing-performance-coaching","tag-lifeguard","tag-swim-down","tag-swim-down-principle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6193"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6195,"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6193\/revisions\/6195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billcorrigan.com\/updates\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Save Yourself First<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cSwim Down\u201d Principle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Boundaries, Breath, and the Return to Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Debriefing the Rescue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leading with Calm in Motion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
They protect their own safety as they protect others\u2019.
They know when to dive in\u2014and when to step back.
They model calm, clarity, and care.<\/p>\n\n\n\nReflect and Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Empowering faculty and staff to lead with clarity, compassion, and confidence.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"