Introduction
Protective security is about enabling a person, or persons, to operate normally, without intrusion, without added stress, and without any detrimental impact to their brand or organization, hence why we call ourselves business enablers or facilitators. As a protector your role is to protect a person, or persons from harm, secondly, to facilitate their needs, as and when required, even if the request in not security related. Factually, agents also become a facilitator in the majority of ''trusted'' details, they must be open to a wide range of demands, not limited to, sourcing amenities, local social activity advice, geographical information, and advice in general (a trusted advisor), an extended resource to any PA, or manager.
UHNWI, C-Suite, Celebrities have exceptionally busy lives, both professionally and personally, much like us, they have priorities, and daily goals, many of which may include particularly important meetings with other business leaders and heads of state, attending very high-profile social or professional events, or family vacations where privacy is paramount. As you can imagine, each circumstance requires a vastly different protective approach, which is why this sector is so dynamic – You must quickly adapt to an ever-changing landscape.
A successful protective security strategy is based on planning, transparent and respectful communications, and forward thinking, with the ability to plan, being proactive always is the key to success. A successful protector will spend most of his/her time anticipating potential problems (mitigation) rather than looking for them or causing them.
We receive resumes frequently, and sadly the information contained is usually focused on hard skills rather than soft and plenty of irrelevance, focusing previous military experience is often of little interest. What would be of interest is that you have an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office, you speak three languages, relevant training qualifications gained through reputable training providers. Focusing your training outcomes on weapon handling when you are applying for a job in a low threat environment where weapons are not allowed carries no value to your application.
The defensive behaviour can break a negative cycle/situation if composure and level headedness is maintained. Offensive behaviour of a person is the source of a negative cycle that involves stress, tension, and agitation between both parties. The truth is any time a principal needs sheer muscle means that someone was not using their brain in the first instance. The protector manages to keep the individual protected, whether a high-profile client or the lead singer of a band, out of harm’s way by preparing for every scenario. The time spent on working out at the gym is of no value, if a protector does not understand the importance of these soft skills and mandatory personal traits.
Ability to avoid and deflect confrontation, if your energy and focus is on a physical confrontation with a threat, your principal will potentially be unprotected from others.
Advance work, knowing the location the principal is visiting, knowing emergency exits, knowing the venue/location security director or manager, planning the route.
The ability to follow directions clearly and to communicate clearly, politely and in a concise manner.
Detail oriented, always planning and thinking ahead of time.
Ability to “blend” in with others, thereby drawing less attention to yourself and furthermore less notice to your principal.
Discretion, meaning, don’t share ANY personal information regarding your client with anyone (including photos in their cars which you don’t own, or on a private jet of which you are not travelling on).
Ninety-nine percent of what we do is proactive planning & the delivery of such plans.
What defines a professional?
Always be punctual.
Be immaculately and appropriately dressed (Do not out-dress the principal).
Fully understand and can implement ''Situational Awareness''.
Always maintain the highest standards of personal hygiene.
Be tactful and diplomatic.
Maintain a calm and confident temperament.
Remember you are a protector, not a servant (but this does not mean you should not carry a bag or umbrella if the situation permits you to do so).
If you think you have said the wrong thing, you have.
Give the Principal space whenever possible (operate without intrusion always).
Speak when spoken to unless you need to communicate a necessary command/request to the principal.
Silence is golden (know when to keep your mouth closed).
Don’t lie, be honest and don’t talk rubbish (People do not want to hear your war stories).
Don’t make idle conversations.
Don’t ‘’listen’’ to private conversations.
Be prepared, or you must be prepared to fail.
Be forward thinking – one step ahead of the game.
Time spent on reconnaissance is never wasted time.
Always be prepared to communicate, negotiate, and compromise.
Practice empathetic assertiveness always.
Be assertive and decisive.
Be prepared to justify decisions on a regular basis and be prepared to document all of them.
Do not lose your temper as you will instantly lose the argument, and your job.
Avoid the over-familiarity trap.
Always maintain a professional relationship with the principal – They are not your friend.
Strong IT skills (any professional will be documenting his day, in the form of reports and expenses, the principal and their management may request these from you).
Don’t drink alcohol within 12 hours of your duty start time or smoke on duty.
Perception, Comprehension, Projection
Situational Awareness
The perception of environmental elements and events with respect to time and space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their status, after some variable has changed, such as time, or predetermined event. These skills are vital within the Executive Protection industry and must be fully understood by any professional, capable, and experienced Executive Protection Agent.
Perception
To be able to perceive the status, attributes, and dynamics of a situation or event, relevant to the elements in an environment, in the most basic of ways. In layman’s terms, this is where the process of monitoring, cue detection, and simple recognition of situational elements like people, locations, conditions, and actions. Here is where you must be able to perceive a threat by monitoring your surroundings and by monitoring your environment, you develop your skills of detection, or an action that someone may take to deter your attention. Also, your recognition of that cue and to what that cue is telling you about the elements that you are surrounded by at that time.
Comprehension
This involves the process of pattern recognition, interpretation, and evaluation. So, taking this and integrating it with perception, you will now learn to interpret and comprehend the information you’re seeing, and understand how it may affect your operation. So now you have perceived a potential issue or threat, or have you? Being able to recognize a pattern being displayed (an angry individual when everyone else is happy) and interpreting that action and evaluating, how said individual is acting.
Projection
The highest level and the one that most protectors try to perform daily. This involves the ability to project the future actions of the elements in the environment. This would be people, places, and things. This can only be achieved if your understanding of both perception and projection are understood. Projection takes a lot of practice, digesting, thinking, and visualizing information, moving forward in time to determine the outcome or the effect it will have on your environment operationally, is mission critical. If you project wrong, you could cause a significant risk to the client.
Situational Awareness are merely phrases without the proper foundation and the unmitigated understanding of the foundation make-up of those terms. Awareness is a choice; you must choose to pay attention. Being able to distinguish what is normal from abnormal is NOT inherent, it takes practice as it relates to Executive Protection. As you learn these techniques try not to rely on the concentric rings of protection, and then making your assessments of a given situation. By this I mean, don’t rely on concentric rings of security because it can lull you into a false sense of awareness therefore, lowering your efficiency.
As you adapt your skills, treat every disturbance as a potential threat until you are comfortable with your information assessment intake and the information you gather from them. If your attention is drawn to a certain event, make a quick assessment to include all these steps quickly, and then assess the rest of your environment to see what, if anything, you are missing. As some industry leaders have shown and continue to prove with their mastery of these skills, the appearance that they have in certain environments are just soft skills that have been mastered over time. In the times that we live in today, and the threats we all face as protectors, we cannot afford to be complacent.
About SABRE Risk
SABRE Risk is a bespoke Risk Management company based in Dubai, focused on providing clientele with the highest level of niche security services throughout the Middle East and Africa, with a core focus on Executive Protection and Secure Transportation. Steered by security risk management professionals and business leaders, with over forty years of international experience, and over two decades of experience focused within the Middle East and Africa.
Our leadership have the proven ability to advise, plan, and deliver protective security programs in some of the most challenging and complex environments in the regions stated above, for some of the world's most influential ''at risk'' individuals. Our existing clientele range from UHNWI's to high-profile recording artists, celebrities, and athletes. Our portfolio is niche, ensuring we can support our clients around the clock, and always maintain one hundred percent dedication.
Our agents possess some of the following qualifications;
BTEC Level 3 in Close Personal Protection
Level 5 Crowd Safety Management
FPOSi, FREC 3, HEFAT, and Life Support
In-House Executive Protection Mentorship
Surveillance Detection
Terrorism & Counterterrorism Studies
TSCM
Our experience has shown us that protective security is about facilitation of a clients every need, whilst always ensuring their security and safety. We have learnt that over the years many clients look for a value-added service, and no-longer seek the stereotypical operative that solely focuses on security and safety. Our approach is proportionate, tailored, and non-intrusive, enabling and facilitating a client to go about their way of life without any additional stress or hindrance. We communicate with our clients respectfully, transparently, and in confidence to ensure their needs are identified, and our services are proportionate and fit-for-purpose.
Please contact the team at SABRE Risk to find out how we can support you, and your organisation within the Middle East and Africa.
operations@sabre-risk.com
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