Post an Armed Guard

It so often happens that after a security incident, be it a robbery, hijacking or attack on a premises, the users of security give an instruction to their security company to “post an armed guard”.
What many of these “instructors” forget is that the armed guard is mostly not the answer and probably more of a target and a risk than anything else.

The robbers plan the execution of their operations – they don’t just by coincidence rob a garage forecourt or bomb an ATM or execute a hijacking (they collect intelligence) whilst driving past a potential target. It is an operation executed by the robbers that, without probably formal training, includes the elements of reconnaissance, planning and execution and then maybe a “dry” practice run. It might include various acts of observation of the target areas before the robbery. Eliminating that armed guard will always be in the plan of the robber – how to neutralise the armed guard and mostly take control of his weapon. Criminals plan their operations - they also determine risk and also turn targets down.

The “armed guard” is normally not in a position of power - except maybe for his firearm which he can only use in self-defence or when his life is endangered. In other words if he is by all means in a (doubtful) position of having the initiative to un foil the robbery he cannot shoot unless endangered.
Unless the defence (the users of security or the armed guard or security company) is in possession of intelligence that would point at a probable robbery risk to which additional counter measures could be introduced, the “armed guard” is more of a liability or a risk than anything else. It attracts the criminal and a special neutralisation plan from the robbers will normally include the theft of the security firearm. They will anyway always be in more numbers than the armed guard.

What is the answer – businesses with high risk activities or lucrative products or cash must conduct proper risk assessments, identify the safeguards required and to also determine the adequacy of the safeguards – that will probably negate the “armed guard” and rather focus on the hardening of the target, provision of electronic early warning and external armed response, and obviously proper insurance policies.

Let us think twice before we just say “place an armed guard” – the criminal operational plan can easily outsmart the armed guard.

Ignite the flames of your passion

Recently published guide to leadership, Lions Leading Lions – creating winning tactics for leaders is a case study on the application of leadership practices (tactics) in the private security industry. If these leadership practices work in the almost toughest industry, the private security industry, imagine how it would fly in other industries? This is a compelling and powerful leadership guide that will get the leader thinking about leadership in an entirely new way.

The leadership guidance, which is built on a trip down memory lane in the military and the private security industry the past 30 years, addresses various aspects of leadership and opens up a few new concepts. Future concepts of leadership that could see development from the MBA graduates or academics is a Sprinkler and Tap approach to leadership, Time out and Recalculation, Safety Leadership, a 101 Leadership Style (100% responsibility, 0% excuses and 100% passion) and a total focus on Passion as a prerequisite for leadership – could possibly play as important role as integrity as a selection criteria.

The leader and quality is a concept that has developed over many years in business and therefor almost 20% of Lions Leading Lions is devoted to quality and the leader. Recognising the relevance between profits and quality is a reality and the assurance is that quality assures long term profits versus short term gains.

The book addresses various leadership challenges from effective communication, managing the golden handcuffed employees, extending the sell buy dates of staff, avoiding the expiry date to how great leaders can be great achievers and great teachers. It also once again emphasize the new role of leaders – a developmental role in communities and the people around your business.

Lions Leading Lions is an essential guide for any future leader or a leader refreshing his skills and an essential practical guide to those who want to teach their leaders the tricks of the leadership trade.

Contact lionsleadinglions@gmail.com

 

 

Lions Leading Lions - creating winning tactics for leaders

Lions Leading Lions will give you an insight in how winning tactics unfold for leaders in any industry but specifically the private security industry. The book  (to be launched) 14 July 2016) will give you an insight in.......@lionsleadinglions

Lions are fighters..... The lion hunt for his food – food is not a given as with the other animals in nature. The masses such as the Impala have more than enough to graze – grass. Lions have to go and find food, they have to observe, they have to be patient, the have to take calculated risks, they have to track and follow – all of these actions before they can attack and then put a fight up. In the private security industry you have to fight for survival – fight for a contract, fight to retain a contract, be patient, fight for an increase and sometimes security officers also have to fight – for a better dispensation, recognition, fight to achieve operational success.

Many times we fight for and achieve success, we are happy and wait for the right opportunity for another success later – then, in that period of waiting for another opportunity we become complacent and inconsistency creeps is – that complacency (sic) that the industry is renowned for. It is that period where the users of security and the security leaders get frustrated – that period where leadership pulls it through for the industry and also for the security officers. This will unfold in Lions Leading Lions.

Creating Winning Tactics for Leaders. We have too many strategists, too many want to be strategists and too few tacticians in business in SA. We too often want to talk Strategy and actually forget what should happen on the tactical level – there where the “takkie” meet the tar or the safety boot hit the ground.

Leaders in business, not only the security business, needs more practical guidance on how to create and lead great teams – not the strategies but the tactics to out manoeuvre the opposition, to win the hearts of their staff and to ultimately succeed in that developmental obligation that leaders have.

I wrote this book as a practical guide to help security leaders navigate their way through the sometimes complex world of winning the heart and minds of those that they serve: their teams.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of this book, send enquiries to - LionsLeadingLions@gmail.com