Qualities of Good Security

A Security Guard is hired to protect people or keep property secure and are there as a preventative measure. Having good security gives you total peace of mind but a lot of people do not think about it until it is too late. There are many security guards out there, but what qualities should you look out for when hiring one to ensure you feel safe?

Proper Training and Education – It is essential before hiring a Security Guard to know they have knowledge of industry standards and an understanding of Security Operations. They need to be prepared on how to handle any situation that may arise whilst they are on duty, how to prevent disasters from occurring and the correct safety procedures that need to be taken in an emergency. They should hold the required Certification and Licence and this must be kept up to date.

Physical Fitness – There are many potential scenarios that Security Guards could be faced with while on duty, and to be a great at your job then you must be prepared for any one of them. To be able to protect a person from harm then you need to be able to defend yourself and your client. If an intruder attempts to break in to the premises you are watching, then you might need to give chase and apprehend the culprit. You might be required to walk around the premises on alert for possible threat, and at times just the sight of a Security Guard can act as a deterrent. A Security Guard must keep themselves fit so they can are ready for anything.

Honesty and Integrity – Many times a Security Guard will be required to work alone, therefore the Client must feel they can trust them to do the job they were hired to do and not breach security or take advantage of confidential information. Background checks are standard procedure before a Security Guard is employed to ensure there is no previous criminal history. The nature of the job also has an increased risk of confrontation, so you need to be able to trust that the person in charge knows how to assess a situation and act appropriately without excess force.

Alertness – A good Security Guard needs to be alert and aware of events going on around them. They need to be able to stay focussed and avoid distractions at all time to ensure they are prepared to deal with any situation that may arise or prevent one from getting worse. If something important gets overlooked, then lives could be put at risk or criminal activity could be missed. At times they may need to report information to law enforcement so they need to be able to give as much detail as possible.

Common Sense – Security Guards have to be able assess a situation with deductive reasoning and logic before deciding an appropriate course of action. They will need to think quick to determine if there is a legitimate threat and figure out if there a way to avoid it by being able to think a few steps ahead to try and predict how a situation will play out. This is especially important in cases of an emergency where it could mean the difference between life and death.

Temperament – It is important for Security Guards not to overreact so they are able to prevent tense situations from becoming worse. Many times confrontations can be prevented from escalating with the correct course of action. At times Security Guards are working in places where people are consuming alcohol which has an added risk of potentially explosive incidents occurring. In these instances, if they aren’t handled calmly and rationally and preventative measures aren’t taken in a timely manner then things could easily get out of control fast.

Communication Skills – Without good communication skills, Security Guards run the risk of misunderstanding important instructions that are given to them by their Client or employee. This may lead to confusion where wrong decisions get made. At times Security Guards work in a team so they need to be able to effectively communicate to their co-workers to ensure correct information is being passed on. In instances where they are dealing with law enforcement, they may need to accurately convey and document incidents that have occurred.