Over the years, I have seen many male security managers. I have also
seen a slow but positive increase in female managers due to the changing
face of the security industry.
I
started in this industry when it was still ruled with an iron fist and
fairly narrow viewpoints, which greatly inhibited women from taking any
serious roles as supervisors or managers.
Women were looked down
on as someone who could not get the job done and someone who could not
be relied upon in the security field. Why? Because it is a relatively
male dominated industry which fertilisers such theories so the gender
door can remain tightly shut.
Years ago, when I worked for a
security company we were one of the very few who promoted women security
guards into positions of leadership. We did this because we believed
that women have quite a different way of dealing with situations than
most men.
I needed to try this so I could enhance and protect our
contract which increasingly relied on PR skills and the need to interact
with any one in the public arena.
I did not have any male
security guards at that time whom I trusted to see both sides of a
situation and who could use a calm approach in the first instance.
This
paid off for my company greatly and not only impressed the client but
also enabled us to expand and grow the business contracts because of
this lateral way of conducting our business.
Clients, security
employers, and managers are looking for that multitasking and lateral
way of dealing with situations today, because we need to be much more
aware of how situations can be dealt with effectively. This is because
if an issue ends up in the hands of lawyers this can equal insurance
liabilities = not good.
Therefore, the stakes are high.
I am
confident that women can have a very good and rewarding career in
today's security industry because it is always evolving and always
seeking new and more efficient ways of getting the job done.
Unfortunately,
women managers are still placed under a microscope to some degree; this
is a boy's club mentality, which will still be around for a while yet.
Here are a few success tips for new women security supervisors/managers.
You need respect; you do not need to be liked.
o
Men are looking for emotion when you make an important security
decision, if you make a decision with the 'appearance' of lack of
feeling or emotion you will gain respect faster.
o You need to be
careful not to appear to close or chatty with any male members. This can
open the door for presumptions of lack of professionalism.
o
Never tell anyone you do not know what you are doing or that you are
unsure. Males can sometimes get away with this - you will not.
o
Instead, say that you will get back with that answer straight away
because you always like to present the best answer and you do not
compromise on quality - then get that answer ASAP!
o Practice being decisive every day; do not project any thing less - ever.
o Do not be late for work. This will be taken as a 'women thing' and it will work against you.
