Respect: given and earned

“The industry had developed standards, guidelines, and certifications. This presented me with a caveat of new practices, terminology, and skill set I did not currently possess. I had to acclimate myself to a new profession with no ramp up time and very little guidance.” Michael S. D’Angelo, CPP (author of “From Police to Security Professional: A Guide to Successful Career Transition”, CRC Press, 2015; excerpt retrieved from www.leadersexcellence.com).

This is an unusual piece for me because my focus is to write about the future of our industry and how to improve it. However, there’s an issue from the past which needs to be addressed.

It’s been known to me for a while that many of my peers think I don’t respect former law enforcement and military service members who have transitioned to the field of asset protection.

It seems I have done something to foster this perception. I am sorry I wasn’t more clear about my views.

Perhaps the angst is related to my repeated claims that our profession requires thorough retraining, skill enhancement, and validation for those who transition into it from military and law enforcement. Without such retraining, most practitioners will be overwhelmed with challenges before them and will not be able to soar above mediocrity. I have not changed my mind on this issue because of my continued observations, but welcome any and all opinions.

I have also said in the past that professional associations in our industry have really failed those who transition from military and law enforcement by making them believe that their existing skills meet baseline requirements of our industry and instead selling to them memberships, certifications, and event access. I stand by this as well. I hold this view because of:

1. having worked with former military and law enforcement throughout my career — observing the bright spots and improvement opportunities of their performance;
2. having attended numerous educational events hosted by ASIS and other industry associations;
3. having designed and delivered educational curriculum to current and former service members through the graduate program at John Jay College and now through my own firm; and
4. having listened to former military and law enforcement service members raise concerns about difficulties with their transition to private sector, and how knowledge they have gained on the job well after transition could have helped them avoid many mistakes had they been better trained before or at least during their transition.

Former law enforcement and military service members in asset protection today should ask themselves the following questions.

1. Could it be that I was hired simply because there’s a false belief in the private sector that my existing skills are sufficient to deliver asset protection solutions in operations, technology, physical controls, and incident management?
2. Was I hired simply because I held a senior post in a respected government agency and would offer a nice “face” with air of credibility?
3. How can I substantiate the value of my contribution to my employer / clients (qualitatively / quantitatively)?
4. Has my ego prevented me from avoiding industry’s echo chambers and gaining more knowledge outside of my comfort zone?
5. Has retirement from my first career negatively affected my sense of duty and proactive vigilance?
6. Is my sense of being respected in the second career rooted predominantly in respect given by those in my echo chamber?

Here are the qualities / skills for which I greatly respect law enforcement and military service members:

1. courage;
2. teamwork;
3. grit;
4. camaraderie; and
5. loyalty.

Here’s what I believe needs most work in transition to asset protection:

1. verbal and non-verbal communication skills;
2. open-mindedness;
3. mental flexibility and ideation;
4. understanding of psychology and human behavior / decision-making;
5. polymathy;
6. knowledge of and ability to implement operational, technological, and physical asset protection controls as a complex of interdependent measures; and
7. project and task management.

So, former everyone, I respect you deeply for the commitment to your first career. I will never understand how you pulled it off and made it to the point of transition. I imagine it wasn’t easy. I ask you in return to respect my choice to question everything you do in your second career because I know you have been grossly underserved and led to believe you were good enough as-is by the likes of ASIS. My objective is to make asset protection a profession which you enter with thorough preparation and additional skills so that the private sector leadership respects you for the right reasons and knows how to make best use of your abilities.

Thank you very much for your attention.

Soar above mediocrity!

www.spherestate.com