Your success as a security professional begins on day one. This handout outlines the three foundational pillars that will help you avoid common rookie mistakes, build a strong reputation, and become an effective, indispensable member of the security team. Master these skills to start your career with confidence and competence.
Skill 1: Master Your Post Orders
Your post orders are the most critical document for your role. Think of them not as a list of rules, but as your definitive guide to success, your primary tool, and your shield.
Know Your Mission: The binder contains all site-specific wisdom, legal requirements, and client expectations, including:
Patrol routes and critical checkpoints.
Emergency procedures and protocols.
Access control rules for employees and visitors.
Actionable Steps for Mastery:
Devour the Details: Don’t just skim your orders. Read them from cover to cover, then reread them. Use a highlighter and make notes.
Memorize Key Information: Know the emergency contact list by heart—property manager, maintenance, local law enforcement, and your company’s chain of command.
Understand the "Why": Ask questions to understand the intent behind each task. If you must check a door, know what you are looking for (e.g., signs of forced entry, a loose hinge).
Be the Expert: In a crisis, there is no time to consult the manual. Your knowledge must be instant and accurate.
Skill 2: Develop Observational Awareness
Your most powerful skill is your ability to observe. This is the difference between reacting to a crisis and preventing one from ever happening.
Establish a Baseline: Your priority is to learn what is "normal" for your post.
What is the typical rhythm of the building?
What are the usual patterns of foot traffic and vehicle movement?
What does the area look and sound like on a typical day?
Actionable Steps for Awareness:
Be Mentally Engaged: Don’t just be physically present. Actively scan your environment and think critically about what you see.
Spot the Anomaly: Once you know what’s normal, anything out of place will immediately stand out. This could be a lingering person, an unfamiliar vehicle, or a propped-open door.
Think Proactively: Your goal is to detect, deter, and de-escalate. Use your eyes and ears to identify potential issues before they develop.
Skill 3: Cultivate Professional Rapport
Your ability to communicate effectively is your most versatile tool. Strong rapport builds trust, commands respect, and makes your job safer and more successful.
Communication is Key: It’s not about being friends with everyone. It’s about being a trusted, respected, and approachable professional.
Your voice, demeanor, and listening skills are as crucial as your physical presence.
Actionable Steps for Building Rapport:
Practice Active Listening: Pay full attention to what others are saying before you respond.
Maintain a Calm Demeanor: Use a clear, confident, and respectful tone in all interactions, especially during tense situations.
Be a Positive Presence: Engage professionally with clients, colleagues, and the public. This encourages cooperation and turns potential adversaries into allies.
Observational Awareness
This is the skill of actively noticing details in your environment and recognizing when something deviates from the usual, expected pattern (also known as the "baseline"). It’s the difference between simply looking at your surroundings and truly seeing what’s happening.
Scenario: "The Out-of-Place Cooler" 🧊
The Baseline: Officer Miller patrols a chemical manufacturing plant every night. For months, she's known that employees in the west wing are only allowed to bring clear bags into the facility. Personal lunch coolers are strictly forbidden in that secure area.
The Observation: During a late-night patrol, she spots a small, red cooler tucked under a desk in what should be an empty office. This immediately stands out to her as an anomaly—a deviation from her baseline knowledge of the site's rules.
The Action & Outcome: Instead of ignoring it, she investigates. Following protocol, she contacts her supervisor. The cooler is found to contain stolen proprietary chemicals. Officer Miller’s sharp observational skills—noticing an object that didn't belong—prevented a significant theft and a potential safety breach.
Professional Rapport
This is the ability to build a sense of trust and mutual respect through effective communication. It involves using a calm demeanor, a respectful tone, and active listening to manage situations professionally, especially when emotions are high. It's about de-escalating conflict, not winning an argument.
Scenario: "The Frustrated Visitor" 😠
The Situation: Officer Davis works the front desk at a downtown office tower. A visitor arrives for a meeting, but his name isn't on the approved visitor list. The man becomes agitated, insisting there's been a mistake and that he'll be late.
A Poor Approach (No Rapport): "Sir, you're not on the list. I can't let you up. Step aside, please." This response is confrontational and will likely escalate the man's anger.
A Good Approach (Building Rapport): Officer Davis makes eye contact and uses a calm tone. He says, "I understand you're in a hurry and this is frustrating. Let me see how I can help." He listens to the man's full story without interrupting. He then says, "Policy requires me to have an employee escort you, so let me try calling the person you're here to see. Can you please spell their name for me?"
The Outcome: By acknowledging the visitor's feelings and framing himself as an ally ("let me see how I can help"), Officer Davis de-escalates the situation. The visitor calms down, provides the information, and the issue is resolved cooperatively. The policy is enforced without creating a hostile incident.
Observational Awareness Checklist: See, Don't Just Look
This checklist is divided into three key areas: People, Vehicles, and the Environment. Use it during your patrols to build a mental baseline of what's normal and to quickly spot things that are out of place.
People 🧍
Behavior: Are you seeing anything unusual?
Anyone moving suspiciously fast or slow?
Individuals loitering without a clear purpose, especially near sensitive areas?
Anyone trying to conceal their identity or avoid eye contact?
Someone showing signs of extreme nervousness, anger, or distress?
Positioning & Access: Is everyone where they should be?
Is anyone trying to "tailgate" behind an authorized person through a secure door?
Are there non-employees in a restricted or employee-only area?
Clothing & Items: Does anything seem out of place?
Is someone's clothing inappropriate for the weather (e.g., a bulky coat in the summer)?
Are they carrying unusual items or bulky bags that could conceal something?
Vehicles 🚗
Parking & Location: Are vehicles parked correctly and safely?
Is a vehicle parked in a fire lane, a reserved spot, or a no-parking zone?
Has a vehicle been left in the same spot for an unusually long time (days)?
Is a car parked in a strange or hidden location?
Condition & Status: Does the vehicle itself raise any questions?
Is an engine running, or are the lights on with no one inside?
Is anyone sitting inside a non-running car for an extended period?
Does the vehicle have fresh damage, suggesting a recent unreported incident?
Environment 🏢
Doors, Windows & Access Points: Is the building secure?
Are any doors propped open that should be locked?
Are there signs of forced entry like pry marks, broken locks, or shattered glass?
Is a new ladder leaning against the building?
Safety & Security Equipment: Is everything in working order?
Are all security lights functioning properly?
Are any security cameras damaged, obstructed, or pointing in the wrong direction?
Are fire extinguishers, first aid kits, or other safety devices where they belong?
Objects & Surroundings: Has anything changed?
Are there any unattended bags, boxes, or packages in unusual places?
Are dumpsters overflowing, or have items been left next to them?
Do you hear or smell anything out of the ordinary (e.s, alarms, smoke, chemical odors)?
About Alliance Training and Testing
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Angel Rodriguez CPP.Owner, Alliance Training and Testing.
