Strategic Time Out and Recalculating before its half time

Emotions of poor performance, laziness and general slackness amongst some people in South Africa has driven me to thoughts on the lessons of life – in short Reality

From excellence to significance  - that is the half time decision we have to take but before we reach half time we need to “recalculate” (as we get the Garmin notice when we are off track or on the wrong route). Do we spend enough time to “recalculate” about our lives or are we just in a stream and there we go on the road to nowhere?

How often do we hear that message on our wrong routes that we have taken where a system “recalculate” the new direction that we have to take. Isn’t that true in life that we constantly have to “recalculate” and change direction to achieve the ultimate objective where we want to be? Don’t we sometimes ignore that “recalculation”, carry on with the wrong route and eventually stop, study the tracking device and then carry on a new route again? How many times have the irritating “recalculation” sound been switched off thinking that on “gut feeling” I can reach the target or objective?

But when we play our game of life, where we would like to call half time around the 40 or 50’s mark, we also need to know where we want to play before half time. It is so clear when someone plays in his own half, always defending his goal line - defending from the one end to the other end, occasionally giving a long kick in the half of the positive life but falling back defending against the onslaughts of life again – never exploiting the advantages of the long kick. Ignoring the sounds of “recalculating”, not being persistent or not in an environment where he can or want to hear the “recalculating” sounds. Pubs, clubs and social parties are not the best places to hear these sounds of “recalculating”. On the other hand, if you don’t want to hear it you will never hear it. If excellence is not in your making, you would not get there – your body language and appearance also tells the story of excellence.

“Strategic Time Out” (STO) is a concept in soccer, cricket and in rugby (water break) that time out in soccer and that break in IPL cricket to do a “mini recalculation” or just to rest – but in actual fact that break needed to re strategize and to get new and quick direction. It is that chances in life to   get back on track to minimise the “recalculation” calls – eventually to be in a position to move from excellence to significance in our mid years when we go to the “change room of life” and call half time. How will it feel if we never reach the “change room of life” because we never succeeded in our first half? We neglected the game plan from the coach of life, the lessons learned from others become mistakes repeated and in general we run from the one side of life to the other – no direction to the gaol line of life.  We drop balls, we miss passes, we don’t see the gaps of life and we never follow up on our long kicks. When we have opportunities then it is from the defence on our own goal line.

Young South Africans – stop playing in your own half defending your goal line, stop batting from the back foot in defensive mode, listen to the “recalculation” calls from the Garmin of life and use your Strategic Time Out to gain momentum – avoid the practices of getting slack, achieving nothing and not gaining in the game of life. You are the future leaders in this country and you are to take business forward through passion, dedication, loyalty and hard work. Listen to the “recalculation calls”, take STO and make the best of your game – play in the opponent half attacking the goal line of the realities that we have to face every day.

Remember that Hope is not a Strategy –just a hope.

Handling labour unrest in the future - the way forward?

The labour strike season is set to open in South Africa. The period May to September is known as strike season as this is the time period when most and predominantly mining wage negotiations, takes place. It is rumoured and probably true that the mining industry is gearing themselves for unknown levels of labour unrest as double digit wage increase expectations would be tabled. Ironically the hunting season is also open in May.

How will the labour unrest be handled, would organised labour honour labour legislation, will there be a repeat of Marikana, will there be limitations on the use of force against striking workers and to what extent will unions have control over their members? Following the criticism at Marikana what can be expected from the SAP?

Would business expect private security to fulfil the role of the SAP in strike handling when it comes to the use of force or would it be more negotiated unrest and the handling thereof – we hope for a peaceful wage negotiation period in SA in 2013 hoping that lessons at Marikana in 2012 have been learnt in terms of the do’s and don’ts of strikes and the handling thereof. We cannot afford a repeat of the Marikana disaster!

The outcome of the Marikana Commission would be interesting and it would be interesting to see the limitations that would be put on law enforcement agencies and private security in terms of the handling of crowds in the future?

Impact of the Economic downturn on the security industry in SA.

Recession, economic downturn, impact of labour unrest on mining and the general economy, high labour force salary expectations, labour union fights for survival, political rivalry with external influences from socialist movements on labour issues  and now lately fragflation (high inflation and low economic growth) also influence the private security industry negatively. With more than 8 000 registered security businesses the “cake” is not big enough to give everyone a sizable opportunity under current conditions.

The reality is a decline in business spending or planning to spend on private security services and stretching payment terms to 60 days plus. Budget adjustments hardly exceed 6% whilst new security contracts are all signed on lower than current rates. The nett effect is an ailing private security industry dropping to net profit margins below 5% at rand values of between R300 and R350 per person per month. It is estimated that on equal time work, companies make more profit out of car guards than a security guard – up to R900 profit could be made from a car guard.

Despite for the above is the security industry growing – more and more new entrants are seen in the industry, new names emerge and “go down” (No nonsense security CC) more second hand bakkies of new companies feature and there are rumours of a growing dissatisfaction amongst security officers due to low rates, non complying security owners pertaining to provident fund contributions and statutory compliance. Government Gazette 36278 dated 28 March 2013 reflect on more than 200 security services providers withdrawn from rendering security services due to failure to pay annual PSIRA fees. In an April 2013 report it is published that only 480 private security companies out of 9020 registered companies contribute and comply with the regulations of the Private Security Services Provident Fund (PSSPF).

But to the contrary:  The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) is spending more than R65 milj on offices and furniture to improve their corporate image and R700 000 a year for a management events office with no events to manage, as published in a Parliaments portfolio committee report on police. The authority is funded through tariffs and fees from members – that is security companies and security officers contributing. To foot the bill, tariff increases imposed were almost 900% in 2012 and is now a cause for legal action from the private security industry. The chairman of PSIRA earns R1,44 milj per annum, which is according to the report R500 000 more than in equivalent entities.  All the positions in the Risk Management and Internal Audit and prosecution division were empty and the IT department appointed 5 new people. Despite for all of these the portfolio committee raised its concerns for poor performance, meeting only 14 of the 46 measureable targets leaving the authority with a 30,4% success rate.

Where does this leave private security companies and business?

 A decline in service levels, less innovative security solutions, security officers less cared for, increases in safety risks due to improper uniforms and protective measures with staff vulnerable due to non statutory compliance in terms of UIF, WCA and other compliant contributions and an industry looking shabby due to low cost uniforms? All of these in efforts to protect net profit margins and enhance shareholder expectations?

The serious security services provider would take on the challenge to compete on price (sic) and would differentiate the low price with additional products and services – over are the days where high prices would be justified with promises of better staff, better uniforms, better training and management. The era is entered (wrongly) where low prices will be protected by the above but business will require that ‘extra” from the service provider, despite for a low price.

 More and more smaller role players will vanish whilst BBBEE and Mining Charter requirements will put more pressure on the larger companies to share wealth in especially mining contracts with local role players putting additional pressure on profit margins being at least 26% less than a year ago.

Whilst survival will force security companies to “go for every new business opportunity” will the responsible business owner still wait and see to it that affordable business contracts are entered into. Mining security might not, if Mining Charter pressure continue to surface, be the lucrative business in the future.

Responsible business owners and users of private security will continue to maintain their values of preferring security services suppliers who care for their employees, value safety of staff and provide that bit extra that would put the user of security at ease of dealing with a responsible security services supplier. The risk of dishonest, unhappy and disgruntled security staff is a threat to business.

Irresponsible security businesses will underpay their staff, reduce costs on uniforms and site equipment and continue to be non statutory compliant – clever and innovative ideas to overcome high statutory expenses in terms of for example the 4,28% WCA contributions will become more pertinent whilst tax compliance would decrease. Security officer unhappiness and possible irresponsible industrial action could be the order of the day.

 Responsible security companies will continue to do business on quality standards, differentiate themselves from the rest of the market and wait for “better days to come” whilst the responsible user of security should appreciate and uses businesses that would be prepared to reduce costs, maintain standards and lower profits.

 The future

The future lies in the hands of true, honest and caring leaders with a passion for the industry, service delivery and maintenance of standards who rate quality as the first prize and then profits will follow immediately

 

 

SECURITY BRUTALITY

Having watched the video where an elderly lady got beaten up by store (CB clothing) security in Jane Furse in Sekhukhuneland in Limpopo Province (already in October 2012 but only surfaced now) can only be described as shocking. It was alleged that she stole a packet of under wear, but the violent beating, almost like a “tribal or bundu court”, is ridiculous.

This took place whilst being looked on by what is presumed to be clothing store staff. Luckily five arrests were executed in April 2013 and bail denied to the three main suspects. These three suspects, presumed to be security guards or staff performing security functions, are also facing charges of assault from a previous case. The question is – if they performed security functions they had to be registered as security officers –are they registered and who do they work for?

The levels of brutality in SA are getting out of hand – if it is not individual police officers, then security guards (recent example on illegal miners caught) and even striking workers. Where will it end?

There must be a “bigger picture” – are there underlying social frustrations or psychological disorders that requires attention? Can ordinary people act in this manner - are South Africans frustrated with each other, disgruntled with social systems or even politically disillusioned and tired of substandard living conditions or what is our problem in SA? Is this the lawless society that we live in where there is no respect for each other or the legal system - on all levels of society?

How low are our morals and what could be done to lift these morals?

 

 

Work stoppages a risk to stability in business?

2012 saw the bloodiest and most stretched out labour actions in many years in SA. If protected it would have been more acceptable but the unprotected and illegal nature of the 2012 strike actions made it even worse – with no respect for labour laws in SA. It was specifically the mining industry and Western Cape seasonal farm  workers that were the culprits.

What was significant of the 2012 strikes in the mining sectors was the move away from the traditional stronghold labour union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to a rival and non COSATU affiliated union, AMCU. Being on the background most of the time in 2012 AMCU left the talking and organizing to the Democratic Socialist Movement – an anti ANC movement with strong socialist ties and links to a London based organisation.

The total value of production lost due to strikes and stoppages in the mining industry in 2012 reached R15.3 billion ($1.67 billion), Mining Weekly.com reported.

The outlook for 2013 does not look good an kicked off on a negative note – NUM and AMCU rivalry continued, forcing certain mines to lose production due to illegal protest action, AMCU initially refused to assign an  agreement with government, mines and NUM but eventually succeeded to do so,  construction workers at the MEDUPI power plant construction area have been striking since mid January 2013 halting construction and delaying the finalisation of the project scheduled for finishing year end and in another devastating strike where  employees and a union are fighting for union recognition has caused  PRASA (the rail agency) R70 milj in damage to infrastructure. Nursing students in Gauteng went on strike, South African medical students in Cuba strike, a private security company in Mpumalanga strike, Dairy belle employees were on a stretched out strike in NW province, striking employees on three mines of Exxaro Coal, SAA employees strike for union organisational rights, Post Office workers in Gauteng and any more are on strike– all in the first three months of 2013.

The mood of labour is definitely not supporting economic growth, let alone building the image of SA abroad.  One can expect that the 2012 trend of illegal strikes or initial illegal work stoppages will continue especially in the mining industry where wages negotiations are scheduled for this year  – grievances will be addressed firstly through illegal work stoppages and then followed by dialogue. It can further be expected that AMCU would continue with a drive to take over membership from the NUM on mines and on various fronts in SA. AMCU earned themselves the tag of a “striking” rather than negotiating union.

When it happens it happens to everyone

Icon’s, celebrities, super stars, hero’s or whatever we call standing out in society have an inherent similarity to ordinary  citizens and that is that somewhere in their makeup they are also normal.

The past 12 months saw devastating impacts on various sports celebrities.  How painful is it to see Joost van der Westhuizen the former rugby hero (see him walking and listening to him talking), Mark Boucher our cricket celebrity almost losing his eye in a freak accident in a cricket match. Now we have Oscar Pistorius, world renowned athlete shattered following a life changing four shots killing his girlfriend. Reeva Steenkamp died as a model, celebrity and known personality.  Lance Armstrong was centre in a drug scandal. Many years ago it was Tiger Woods and his “underground lifestyle” and the most famous for South Africans was Hansie Cronje and his match fixing scandal and eventual tragic death – now Oscar follows in his footsteps.

What has happened to all of them is normal and happens to the ordinary citizens every day. Anine Booysen lost her life through rape and left her parents behind in a dramatic rape case in Bredasdorp in the Western Cape. The former investigating officer Botha in the Pistorius case in what is described as “bad day” in the witness stand has been taken off the case - all of a sudden to hear that a  case of attempted murder  withdrawn many years ago has been reopened – in the late afternoon after his dismal witness appearance in court. What an unbelievable coincidence on a day when it seems as if the state had no foot to stand on against Oscar - quick thinking by the powers to be shattering an ordinary policeman?

 Are we prepared for the “happening” in our lives –if we are hardworking labourers, blue collar workers, politicians or if we are executions and celebrities? In a recent interview cricket star Mark Boucher was very realistic saying that the accident causing him to lose out site in his eye and thereby not reaching the milestone 150 test match could have happened in his first or second test of his career leaving him without a career. He is very thankful even if this has happened.

Following a heart operation eight years ago I read the book “Halftime” making me realize that it is time to get to the change room of life, re strategize, redirect certain priorities and to make that life change for the second half or what is intended to be a last half of my life”. As it is referred the change from Excellence to Significance. Am I achieving full significance – no – I have to get back to the change room of life from time to time and again do adjustments.

I heard Joost talking to Jacaranda radio station in the past week on his birthday and realized that the once hero of Loftus Versfeld rugby stadium and the rugby nation is just as ordinary as all of us, he is just worse off as he has a daily counter on his life and he knows it. Ordinary people and celebrities all have a counter but we don’t see or hear it “tick”. Mark Boucher has taken his second half and moved in a worthy charity focusing on anti-rhino pouching. Our counter could reach its target in seconds without warning us  - did Oscar think his Valentines day would be such a disaster?

Oscar, following his gloom, glamour, fight for recognition and achieving success has a hard gravel road ahead, whatever the outcome of the court case his life has changed forever the night of 13 February – he should still be in the mode of Excellence and he would probably have to go to the change room of life and decide which way forward. Reeva Steenkamp did not have a chance in live to get to the change room and call halftime – she was still young and in her Excellence phase not necessary to re strategize. She was still on the compass and GPS phase with a call for “recalculating” now and then, change direction and move on in success. But the ordinary girl from Bredasdorp, Anine Booysen followed the same route as Reeva – a world just as shattered about her death as with Reeva.

For Oscar the GPS have temporarily switched off as any direction now might be the wrong direction and the court has put limitations on his direction – the outcome of the court case starting in June 2013 will determine his next and new direction. Hard life………but faith, prayer and belief are the cornerstones of his life, more than ever before.

And the families -in situations like this families and close friends make changes, choices and sacrifices – each of the mentioned celebrities’ families and friends made sacrifices.  Bitterness at least with the Booysen and Steenkamp families and so many we don’t know whilst uncertainty will haunt the Pistorius family for many months to come.

It happens to all of us – when we are in the run for Excellence we must listen to the GPS of life and the recalculating turnaround messages. When the time of our life is there we must go to the change room of life and strategize for Significance – our counter of life ticker could change its stance in seconds.

Perspective on leader managers

“The next revolution started: "ordinary people like me getting frustrated with systems of which the 'soul' lacks authentic leader-managers", Callie Roos commented on Twitter on 19 January 2013. Knowing Callie Roos for some years as a life coach, mentor, motivational speaker, trainer and change manager, Callie posts on his website (www.onpurpose.co.za) that experience has taught him four things about the successful businesses of the future:

• They will be distinguished by the wholeness of their people.
• Sustainable change begins where the individual mind set reflect on reality and create new meaning for itself.
• To become pro-active and advance to significance is a choice.
• The ultimate training and development intervention happens through process and not only design.

Having read Callie’s latest Tweet (19 January 2013) on his frustration and experience with the lack of leader managers in SA, I found an email that I have send on 9 Sept 2010 after I attended a church service that Callie conducted in Pierre van Ryneveld in Centurion (Pretoria). It was so inspirational that I summarised what Callie has said in an email to my managers at Thorburn Security Solutions. Comparing what Callie has said on 9 September 2010 with his January 2013 tweet, I must share it with you and I quote my email.

“Having listened thoroughly to the "pastor" or "dominee" in church this morning (Callie Roos - see detail on www.onpurpose.co.za or www.callieroos.co.za), I realized that for us to be successful and to be in a position to "make a mark", be respected or to just be the leader of choice in Thorburn Security, we have to amongst others:

 1.            Be thankful - We have so much to be thankful for – people who are thankful are normally also humble. Sit back, think of what you have and what others would dream of to have from you and be humble about your and our achievements.

 2.            We need to have a strong vision - we need to know what we want to achieve and we must do it!

3.            We need to take ownership - be in control of what you do or what is expected from you to do. Be accountable for your deeds or you failure to do something.

4.            We need to have intuition - that gut feel that we mix with a bit of research before we commence with a task or initiative.

5.            Be inspirational - people around you must experience your presence in a positive manner and they must look forward to your very next move as they should realize that that very next move is inspiring them to higher achievements. Are you only criticizing and negative or motivational with positive inspirational acts, words and phrases? Positive Thinkers are also inspirational!

6.            Do what you do, do well! If you have two tasks to do today, do them both well - don't do three half if you need to do two well. 

 7.            You must grow! As stated are people who are thankful normally people who grow. I can recall that a well know South African, dr David Malapo wrote  a book - "if you are not growing you are dying"

I add one aspect to what Callie has said - and you know that is my focus area - that is to have a passion for life, a passion for your family, a passion for your community, passion for Thorburn Security, passion for security and loss prevention and passion for our clients. Passion is a sign of inspiration that you portray" end of quote/email.

 

I am convinced that using these elements Callie has taught us as the bear minimum for growth as leader managers in SA, we would see a vast difference and less frustrations.

 

Thanks Callie for sharing your views with us!!!