It's all about stopping the Barnacles!

I was sitting behind three people on a flight recently and being a typical policeman I could not help overhear their conversations. For the first hour they did nothing but complain, whinge and moan.

Their list of grievances was immense, covering everything from airline food to the incivility of Hong Kong shop assistants. As I listened, I thought 'BARNACLES' - a lot to say, but very little personal movement and a hard sharp exterior that will cut you for the hell of it - nothing personal - it's just what barnacles do.

During our final approach into Bangkok airport the barnacles focused on the cabin crew, which brings me to this column's missive - fun.

Throughout the journey the crew were obviously having fun while they worked. They talked, laughed and enjoyed each others' company. But this overt display of joviality caused great concern to the barnacles who openly questioned how they could stand and joke, minutes before landing. Other crews would surely, by now, have been in their landing positions.

The runway came into view and then, as if by magic, the crew were in their seats. The barnacles were aghast. From my perspective, it was a great flight due to the crew's attentiveness and their friendly "no problem" attitude.

As I listened, it became clear the real issue of concern was not 'professional competence', but a belief it was wrong to show you were having fun while working. To be considered 'professional', every effort must be made to give the impression work was not fun.

Sadly, as I reflect on the Police, it appears some colleagues have started to believe this notion. As a result, they appear to be actively attempting to take the fun out of police work. To be serious, unemotional and distant seems to be gaining ground as the prerequisite to attaining the badge of 'competent and professional'.

But anyone who experiences frontline policing first hand would soon wake up to the fact that we produce our best work when it is fun. It is one of the main reasons we joined the profession and what keeps us ahead of the opposition.

It is the motivator to get us out of bed in the morning and keeps us enthusiastic about another day in paradise.

For operational police officers, this focus on fun at work is perhaps even more important as it helps them overcome the sad and terrible events they may be called to deal with each shift.

I believe having fun at work is a core element of being a professional police officer. It helps keep us human and compassionate stopping us from over reacting in difficult situations.

So during the next leg of my journey from Bangkok to London, I thought of my sailboat and the fact that if you let one barnacle attach itself to your hull, in no time at all there is a hundred of them. And once attached, they are very difficult to remove without causing permanent damage.

Having fun is an attitude you bring to work. More significantly, it is infectious. But it takes a conscious effort to keep the barnacles at bay. I know I have an important part to play bringing the right attitude to work and helping to make the job fun for myself and my colleagues - what are you doing today to make the job FUN?

Any thoughts on this and other issues? Contact Steve or OffBeat, we would be pleased to hear from you.



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