Training and constant work allow security professionals to grow and improve their knowledge in the exercise of their profession.
By: Héctor R. Torres, PHD, CPP, CFE, CHS*
A fraternal greeting from Puerto Rico to all colleagues and readers of this column! It is a pleasure to share again with you.
I was recently talking with several colleagues about the future of the security profession and what strategies should be followed for the development of professionals in our field. This topic, in addition to being very relevant, represents a real need for the growth and credibility of our profession.
Although there are many ways in which a professional can develop, the reality is that development is based on the needs of the profession and organizations. Business enterprises in the 21st century require security professionals who have certain skills, abilities and knowledge to contribute directly to the success of security. On this occasion I share with you some simple strategies that I have outlined above and that can be used for the development of our security professionals.
Years of experience in Security Management
This experience is developed through total immersion in all aspects of the profession. We cannot make the mistake of becoming specialists when we aspire one day to be high-level managers in our career.
Being a specialist can be a factor that limits our professional growth; we must step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves to learn new fields within industrial safety. We always have to look for new opportunities, tasks and responsibilities with mind and heart open to professional discovery and enrichment.
The experience developed in our members also establishes the credibility of our profession. An excellent technique is to look for good advisors inside and outside the corporation, who can help them in their professional development in the fields of security and business.
Professional certifications
These are another source of credibility in our profession. It is important to emphasize that they are not a substitute for experience, but distinguish practitioners of a profession in their pursuit of excellence. I have to warn you that there are many certifications in the field of industrial safety, therefore it is worth studying a certification before incurring expenses of money and time, because some certifications do not contribute anything to the profession. Consider obtaining professional certifications within the security field through recognized organizations such as the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS).
Academic education
The academic development of industrial safety practitioners is necessary in order to establish credibility in the profession. There is still a perception that those of us who practice security are "security guards" or that we are in the profession because we are not trained to do anything else.
To establish our credibility as professionals we must develop through education and the achievement of academic degrees. We must never accept the status quo imposed by misperceptions about our profession. Our credibility is established when we can speak the same language and conceptualize at the same level with colleagues and superiors from other business units in our organization.
As human beings, we also need to grow in knowledge to develop our potential in its entirety. Consider returning to college for bachelor's or master's degrees in business management as the business world is changing rapidly and therefore the way companies are run.
Leader and agent of change
Corporations in the 21st century are looking for leaders! Anyone can become a manager but few know how to be true leaders. Based on the experiences of dealing with emergencies and contingencies, it is truly gratifying to see how many leaders exist in our profession. You have to ask what is the difference between a manager and a leader.
A manager manages systems, programs, procedures, and resources. A leader establishes a process of influence over the organization's most important resource; its members. In this process of influencing, the leader provides purposes, directions, and creates a motivating environment.
As practitioners of this profession we must aspire to become the best leaders of our organization. This involves not only learning about leadership but becoming true practitioners of it. We must continually develop our leadership skills until they become part of us, always focusing on the fulfillment of the mission and the well-being of our followers. Nothing gains more credibility in a profession than the leadership of its practitioners.
Become leaders who promote organizational change. As I had previously pointed out, the business environment in the 21st century is extremely volatile. Therefore, organizations have to constantly adapt to changes in their business environment. If they don't adapt, organizations can't compete properly and if they can't compete they will cease to exist.
Organizational change requires strong leaders who are agents of change. A change agent is defined as a leader who acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Business organizations are looking for leaders they can execute as agents of change. To be a good agent of change, these leaders have to be wise entrepreneurs in the management of the organization's business.
The future is in our hands
To conclude, industrial safety continues to evolve rapidly. The 21st century presents us with unique challenges and opportunities requiring security professionals to become scholars as well as practitioners.
We live in exciting times where we will see our profession grow in credibility through the leadership, professionalism and ability of a new generation of industrial safety practitioners. The future of our profession is in our hands if we accept the challenge of developing professionally.
I invite you to continue to share your ideas and concerns from the world and security management. ! A hug and see you next time!
