Ian K Ramdhanie, MSc,
Principal, CISPS
"Lead by example." This is a notable saying expressed in all walks of life that has been passed down from generation to generation.
There are many applications of this aphorism in the business arena like bosses should: respect their employees, be fair to all people, be honest in dealing with customers and many more. This maxim has even been extended to politicians, parents, religious leaders and elder brothers and sisters in the home.
But there is one other very important way in which executives, managers and supervisors should clearly lead by example. It concerns education and training. All employers should want their employees to be well-trained and qualified to execute their functions in the organisation as well as bring something more or new to the workplace. Employees can come into an organisation with such training, or receive training in-house or through a combination of both.
So too, employees want their leaders, managers and supervisors to be up-to-date in their skill set, thinking and ability to contribute more to the organisation in other ways. And, there is no better way to do this than to engage in higher level education and training.
Higher education not only provides knowledge and strategies, but it stretches the mental capacity of the training's recipients to make high level decisions. The "pressures" of higher learning for executives, managers and supervisors prepare such people for the executive stresses that are part of their job function.
Executive training varies from job to job and from discipline to discipline. Some require a PhD, others a MBA. And, there are those that necessitate other professional certifications. The latter is where we shall delve into a little deeper.
In the corporate security, law enforcement, corrections and public safety industries, there are some "gold standards" that people can aspire to. Those people who are and those who aspire to lead and manage such functions and organisations, there are certain professional certifications that are pertinent.
For instance, there is the Certified Protection Professional (CPP), the Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) and the Physical Security Professional (PSP) certifications offered by the renowned American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS). These are available in most countries–classes and the exams. There are even provisions for people who may not possess the first degree requirement but enjoy the relevant managerial experience to pursue these certifications.
And, this is where leading by example shines through an organisation. For those who have positions of authority like a senior police officer, senior prisons officer, manager or senior security officer in banks, insurance companies, retail and wholesale companies, energy sector, manufacturing sector, hotel and hospitality industry, security companies, state or quasi state organisations like the ports, WASA, T&TEC, TSTT, Petrotrin, Plipdeco, universities/ school campuses, etc, we need these leaders, managers and supervisors to have that higher level training in some of the programmes listed above.
Such training shall allow them to lead by example to their middle and junior officers and be technically prepared and certified to deal with the wide range of security risks and threats that may unfold right in front of their very eyes from a leadership viewpoint. Given the security risks facing the world today and tomorrow, all smart enterprises know it is better to be prepared than regret.
The country needs to feel comfortable that its leaders in security, law enforcement and public safety are well-equipped to both prevent as well as handle any major crime and security incident that may occur.
When leaders engage in training, it serves as a motivation for others in the organisation to follow suit especially if those in the organisation view the leader as a significant other or a role model. In the end, the organisation as a whole benefits by having a more educated staff–from top to bottom.
When executives meet in such training sessions, ideas and lessons are shared among one another. They begin to think more outside of the box. Strategic juices are squeezed out of their minds and leak down to create new plans and directions for their organisations!
Now, this does not mean that all successful security and law enforcement executives must possess higher level training. There are success stories whereby such people who through their own insights, initiatives, hard work etc, became successful. But, this is definitely not the norm. But by having such professional certifications and fraternity, there is more to gain than lose.
This also does not in any way diminish the role of experience for executives, managers and supervisors. Experience of executive personnel is critical for the success of any organisation even in the security and law enforcement functions. Experience plus high level training is a magnanimous combination.
And then, there are those who acquire the higher level of training and cannot put it to use.
The lesson, then, for executives, managers and supervisors in the security and public safety sphere of things is to seek the tremendous opportunities available from higher education and training, and have this combined with years of experience translated into successes.
�2 Contact the CISPS for classes for these upcoming 2016 international certifications. Tel: 223-6999, 361-1024, info@caribbeansecurityinstitute.com, www.caribbeansecurityinstitute.com
�2 Paolo Kernahan will return next week