As Security Management Stage 1 began in Nigeria, the delegates for the concurrent UK course were beginning to arrive to begin their course. Representing mainly energy companies, the delegates hail from Africa, the Middle East, Russia and Malaysia and like their fellow ARC alumni in Nigeria, have been debating the issues related to the skills and abilities of security managers.
For this course, the debate centred around the benefits of having military or police experience and, as in Nigeria, these delegates concluded that there are undoubted benefits to the security manager having more than just an ex-service portfolio of skills. However, there was general consensus that the modern services produce personnel with far better-developed business and ‘soft’ skills than in the past. The group cautioned against discarding these skilled personnel completely and concluded that bridging the gap in security managers’ skills involves personal and professional development and training for both business professionals (in security skills and knowledge) and security professionals (in business management skills).
It is interesting to note that only 4 of the 11 delegates have a military or police background and clearly understand, from their own experiences, the benefits and disadvantages of polarised skill-sets for the security professional.
One of the delegates summed up the debate as follows:
‘I agree, it is absolutely true, that the security manager has to combine traditional security skills with profound business and technical knowledge. I absolutely agree with the description of the whole range of skills which a security manager has to master, such as basic IT and presentation delivery; interpersonal skills; functional management in all its applications (managing projects, selecting contractors, managing the team and managing time etc). From one side, it is a complicated goal to achieve, from the other, it helps a security manager to feel comfortable in a business environment, speaking the same business language with other managers and directors.’
The groups will be developing this theme throughout the course and exploring the areas of business where both ‘sides’ can effectively improve and contribute to corporate aims and objectives.
If you want to join the debate – go to the ARC website, or contact Janet for further information on our Security Management Courses.
For this course, the debate centred around the benefits of having military or police experience and, as in Nigeria, these delegates concluded that there are undoubted benefits to the security manager having more than just an ex-service portfolio of skills. However, there was general consensus that the modern services produce personnel with far better-developed business and ‘soft’ skills than in the past. The group cautioned against discarding these skilled personnel completely and concluded that bridging the gap in security managers’ skills involves personal and professional development and training for both business professionals (in security skills and knowledge) and security professionals (in business management skills).
It is interesting to note that only 4 of the 11 delegates have a military or police background and clearly understand, from their own experiences, the benefits and disadvantages of polarised skill-sets for the security professional.
One of the delegates summed up the debate as follows:
‘I agree, it is absolutely true, that the security manager has to combine traditional security skills with profound business and technical knowledge. I absolutely agree with the description of the whole range of skills which a security manager has to master, such as basic IT and presentation delivery; interpersonal skills; functional management in all its applications (managing projects, selecting contractors, managing the team and managing time etc). From one side, it is a complicated goal to achieve, from the other, it helps a security manager to feel comfortable in a business environment, speaking the same business language with other managers and directors.’
The groups will be developing this theme throughout the course and exploring the areas of business where both ‘sides’ can effectively improve and contribute to corporate aims and objectives.
If you want to join the debate – go to the ARC website, or contact Janet for further information on our Security Management Courses.
