Team building and support is paramount in the security industry. Trust and confidence in your fellow team mates is critical. Supervisors must be able to trust and support individuals within the team, conversely those individuals should trust and respect their supervisor. The team should feel their supervisor will support them and provide a fair and professional work environment. With well understood policy/procedure and a training program that brings the entire team together to play from the same sheet of music, a safer, more efficient and even pleasurable work experience is achieved. A well rounded and insightful supervisor can and should help promote these feelings of self worth, contribution and appreciation.
Some security managers will hover and micro manage staff to the point of exhaustion and annoyance. It is too much to shepherd the flock all the time and it sends a message to the troops that you do not trust them to do the right thing. It is also a real confidence killer if staff is never "off the leash".
It all starts with hiring the right people. Professionals know their job and will only need familiarization, an honest welcome and site specific training, neophytes will learn what is expected of them and with the right mind set (provided by the supervisor), they will willingly lap up training if a feeling of trust, contribution and appreciation are there as a constant reward. Being part of the team is the pay off, so it goes that positive promotion of the team's self worth is bolstered. This way members will feel this team is worth the effort of going above and beyond for. This is the caliber of security staff we strive to attain. Some employers are happy to settle with staff that "do their eight and skate". I am not. Team members should legitimately want to be part of this effort. They should respect and even envy those that work well within the group and wish to emulate them.Eclectic team building is necessary to better deal with a diverse and unpredictable environment. Each member will have their particular groove and this must me recognised, nurtured and utilized by the supervisor. This is the time to let team members shine, those that rise to the occasion must be recognized by the supervisor. Any "pat on the back" moment should be exploited and shared with the team. A supervisor that steals thunder is not going to work well within the team. When your people look good, you look good, when your client/patron is happy with the staff and it's work performance, they are happy with you too. It is a synergistic relationship.
Being sincere and honest in your appreciation and pride of those you work with is important. The supervisor should be cognisant of those unique personalities and comfortable in his ability to incorporate them as needed to occupy specific postings, perform special duties or handle sensitive incidents. With each unique and diverse background reinforced by thorough training and practised team "role reversal" activity, the team learns what they are capable of. They know who is strong in some skills and weak in others. This is the time they really team up and nurture each other, building stronger skills and bonds.
A competent, socially aware and fair supervisor helps make that happen.Supervisors often believe they need to be "the bad guy" at times to keep staff on course. This is wrong and in many ways counterproductive. Promoting the right mind set based on pride and a strong loyalty to the people you work with as well as the company you represent is it's own reward. Staff that let the team down, let themselves down as well. This attitude does not manifest itself over night, it does take some time. The stronger the team, the easier to recruit-train-incorporate new members with this strong work ethic, legitimate desire and skill. With proper direction and support, a supervisor can build a team that works on auto pilot. Constant contact without crowding-micro managing allows these professionals to do the job they have been trained to do. Mission NOT task is the order of the day.
It is important to be able to supervise as one of the team instead of as an outsider just steering a group. As one of the team (with modified responsibilities) you are still approachable. Being a front line supervisor shows the team that you understand the work and are able to relate and respond as well as lead. Your opinion has value and you are willing to listen and learn as well as make suggestions or provide guidance.
Every professional appreciates a leader that has "come up" from within the ranks. The best leaders are team players and good followers, the best supervisors always have the mission, his/her team and their duty in mind. They should be well versed in all of the aspects of the job and know how to stand in at any level within the construct of the team's mission as well as supervise.
Train, Lead, Support, Trust = Respect, Competence, Appreciation, Success.
Watch Your Six
RJ Mosca
