Security Superstars: The 15 Qualities that Set the Best Guards Apart What Makes a Great Security Guard? 15 Must-Have Qualities The 15 Traits of a Standout Security Guard

Professionalism

Security guards represent their company whenever they are on duty. Maintaining professionalism ensures they portray a positive image. Professionalism includes several key traits:

  • Punctuality – Being on time and prepared for all shifts demonstrates reliability. Guards should arrive a few minutes early to receive a debriefing from the previous shift.
  • Proper uniform – The uniform projects an orderly, authoritative presence. It should be clean and pressed. Some companies require specific grooming standards, too, like polished shoes.
  • Courtesy – Guards should maintain a respectful demeanour and avoid confrontational language. They serve the public or client they are protecting.
  • Respect – Even when dealing with frustrated or hostile people, guards need to remain calm and treat everyone with dignity. They must avoid any inappropriate remarks.
  • Integrity – Honesty and ethics are paramount. Guards should comply fully with laws and company policies, avoiding any impropriety. They must protect confidential information. Accepting bribes, gifts, or other favours is prohibited.

Observation Skills

A security guard must have excellent observation skills. A thorough close-eye activity involves remaining alert at all times and paying close attention to the environment and people around you. Guards must notice even minor details and be able to recall that information accurately later on.

Specific observational skills that are essential include:

  • Alertness – Security guards need to remain actively watchful of their surroundings. They cannot allow themselves to relax or be distracted. Being alert helps detect any suspicious behaviour, criminal activity, safety hazards, or policy violations.
  • Attention to detail – Guards have to be detailed-oriented. They must spot anomalies and changes in their environment. Examples include an unlocked door, missing equipment, or any other red flags. Having an eye for detail allows guards to identify warning signs.
  • Memory retention – Guards must accurately remember the observations they make during their shift. They may need to provide descriptions of people, record license plate numbers, or recall sequences of events. Strong memory retention becomes vital for reporting incidents or crime investigations.

By honing these observational skills, guards can gain comprehensive awareness of their site. They will notice things that untrained people will miss. That allows them to identify risks and take preventative action when necessary proactively. Their observations also provide critical data when investigating incidents. Overall, keen observation skills allow security personnel to be effective guardians of people and property.

Communication Abilities

Effective communication skills are essential for security guards. They must be able to convey information clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing.

Clear Verbal Communication

Security guards need to communicate clearly and professionally when interacting with the public, tenants, employees, visitors, and emergency responders. They should speak audibly and articulate words properly so their message is understood. Guards may need to give clear verbal instructions during emergencies or diffuse confrontations through effective communication.

Active Listening

Along with transmitting messages clearly, security guards must actively listen to understand and respond appropriately. Active listening involves:
Giving full attention to the speaker.
Showing interest through body language like nodding.
Asking questions for clarification.
By listening closely to conversations and reports from staff or the public, guards can better assess situations and determine the proper response.

Written Communication

Security personnel are often required to write clear, detailed, and accurate reports documenting incidents, activities, and observations during their shift. These reports must be free of grammatical errors and provide the relevant facts. Guards need strong writing skills to properly convey important details like descriptions of suspicious individuals, witness accounts, procedures followed, and chronological narratives of events.

Judgement and Discretion

Security guards must exhibit strong judgement and discretion in their day-to-day duties. Judging capabilities include being able to make quick and sound decisions under pressure. Guards often encounter ambiguous situations that require critical analysis and assessment before taking action. Exercising prudence and caution is crucial.

For instance, a guard may witness a heated exchange between two individuals. Before intervening, the guard must swiftly evaluate the risks, determine the best course of resolution, and carefully execute it. Their judgement impacts whether the conflict escalates or de-escalates. Rash decisions could endanger safety. However, inaction could also allow further altercation. A guard’s seasoned discernment enables appropriate responses.

Guards must also know when situations warrant discreet action or confidentiality. Protecting people’s privacy maintains trust. Revealing sensitive details could damage reputations or security operations. Wise guards recognize when to share information on a need-to-know basis. Keeping vigilance while exercising discretion is key.

Overall, a guard’s situational judgement and discretionary conduct instil confidence and professionalism. Their choices reflect sound logic, ethics and maturity under pressure. Exemplary guards become respected for their prudence. Their composure and high standards create a sense of security.

Legal Knowledge

Security guards must have a strong understanding of the legal regulations, policies, procedures, and rights related to their role. That includes knowledge of laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels that impact security operations.

Some key areas of legal knowledge for security guards include:

  • Privacy laws and policies governing security surveillance, access to private information, searches, etc. Guards must understand legal limits on invasion of privacy.
  • Laws on detention, arrest, search and seizure, use of force, self-defence, etc. Guards must know when they can legally detain someone, how to conduct a lawful search, legal use of force guidelines, and the rights of self-defence.
  • Knowledge of legal obligations in reporting crimes, testifying at hearings/trials, handling evidence properly, etc. Guards have to report criminal activity.
  • Understanding regulations around licensing and training requirements for security guards. Laws dictate mandatory licensing, checks, training standards, etc.
  • Knowledge of policies and procedures governing incident response, evidence handling, emergency protocols, jurisdiction, etc. Guards must follow proper protocols.
  • Understanding constitutional rights, civil liberties, equal treatment under the law, discrimination laws, etc. Guards cannot violate individual rights and liberties.
  • Knowledge of employer policies, post orders, rules of engagement, code of conduct, etc. Guards must comply with workplace rules.
  • Liability laws related to negligent security practices, injury/damage on-premise, etc. Guards must avoid negligence lawsuits.

Through training and continuing education, security guards build strong legal knowledge to ensure they operate professionally, safely, and lawfully while protecting people and property.

Physical Fitness

Security guards need to have a reasonable level of physical fitness to perform their duties properly. That includes adequate strength, stamina, coordination, flexibility and overall health.

Strength – Guards need enough strength and endurance to handle confrontations, detain unruly individuals, and assist in medical emergencies. Strength is also required for tasks like prolonged standing, patrolling on foot, and restraint techniques.

Stamina – The ability to exert energy over long periods is crucial. Guards often work long shifts, sometimes 12 hours or more, and need stamina to stay energized and focused. Emergencies can happen at any time during a shift as well.

Coordination – Guards must coordinate their movements during activities like pursuing suspects on foot, controlling crowds, and using self-defence tactics. Good coordination helps prevent injury.

Flexibility – Flexibility allows guards to respond quickly in tense situations, move in confined spaces, and minimize injuries from physical encounters. Simple stretches before a shift helps maintain flexibility.

Health – Overall physical health and fitness make guards better equipped for the demands of the job. A healthy diet and lifestyle outside of work contributes to success on the job. Annual checkups also help identify any issues.

Responsibility

A security guard must demonstrate responsibility in carrying out their duties. That includes:

  • Reliability – Security guards need to be punctual and present for all shifts. Their team and the people they protect count on them to be there when expected. They must maintain consistent and thorough performance.
  • Integrity – Guards should adhere to moral and ethical principles in their conduct. They should be honest trustworthy, and avoid unethical behaviour. Integrity is crucial for maintaining their authority and the trust placed in them.
  • Accountability – Security personnel must be accountable for their actions. They are expected to own up to any mistakes and not evade responsibility. Taking accountability earns them respect. Guards should comply with rules and regulations, too.
  • Work Ethic – Having a strong work ethic is vital. Guards should have determination, dedication, and a positive attitude toward their duties. They must be willing to work hard and avoid complacency. Maintaining focus and persevering through challenges demonstrates an admirable work ethic.

Situational Awareness

Security guards need to maintain keen situational awareness at all times. That involves remaining alert to what is going on in the surrounding environment and paying close attention to any potential threats or dangerous situations. Security guards should continuously scan and monitor their surroundings, taking note of people, activities, and objects. They must recognize when something seems out of the ordinary and be ready to respond swiftly if a threat emerges.

Situational awareness requires guards to tune into details that others might overlook. For example, a guard shouldn’t overlook any unauthorized person trying to enter a restricted area or if a bag has been left unattended. Guards must also be attentive to sudden changes in behaviours among people they are observing. Any abrupt shift in mood or actions could signal a brewing problem.

Strong situational awareness stems from active engagement, not just passive watching. Security guards need to mentally prepare themselves to pick up on subtle cues and quickly process what they mean. That takes concentrated effort and energy. Guards must fight complacency and remain vigilant during every shift, even when there is no obvious activity. Developing comprehensive situational awareness is a critical skill for effective security and safety.

Stress Management

A good security guard needs to remain levelheaded and calm under pressure. Security guards face stressful situations regularly, from dealing with unruly people to responding to emergencies. Having healthy coping mechanisms for stress is essential. Some tips for managing stress as a security guard include:

  • Learn relaxation techniques like deep breathing or visualization
  • Exercise regularly to reduce overall stress levels
  • Maintain a fitness-oriented diet and get plenty of recreation(reading, off-period habit)to keep your energy up
  • Talk to coworkers or friends about challenging situations
  • Keep your sense of humour and don’t take everything personally
  • Understand your triggers and limits for stress
  • Take short breaks during your shift when possible
  • Do not rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms like smoking, too much caffeine, or isolation

Remaining cool and collected in tense situations will allow you to respond appropriately. You’ll be able to assess situations clearly, follow procedures, and de-escalate conflicts. Strong stress management skills make you more effective and respected as a security guard.

Teamwork

Security officers must work closely with their team to ensure the safety and security of the property they are protecting. That requires excellent cooperation, coordination, and collaboration among team members.

Security teams must communicate clearly and openly with one another to share observations, divide tasks, and determine the best course of action in various situations. Officers should be supportive of their teammates and willing to provide backup or assistance when needed. Teammates should coordinate their actions and movements to provide the most comprehensive monitoring and response coverage of the area.

Close cooperation enables security teams to operate smoothly and present a unified front. Team members who collaborate effectively are able to draw on each other’s strengths, compensate for weaknesses, and work together in confronting issues. Well-coordinated teamwork maximizes safety and security while minimizing risks and oversights.

By developing camaraderie and truly functioning as a cohesive unit, security teams enhance their preparedness, amplify their strengths, and provide the most vigilant protection for people and property. The ability to work as a supportive, communicative, and coordinated team is a key quality of excellent security officers.