5 Things You Must Know To Have A Great Security
Security guard company owners and managers have wideranging backgrounds and experience. Many have military or law enforcement backgrounds, some have previous security experience, and still others come straight from corporate America. But no matter their backgrounds, there are five key things that the owners and managers of a great security company know that those of mediocre companies don’t.
1. When they are in front of their customers, their customers are always right.
I have seen, on more than one occasion, a manager telling a customer how and why they are wrong. In most cases, taking that position only erodes any good faith that has been won over time. At great security companies, owners and managers let the customer think they’re right, even when they’re wrong. That’s because they know that the best way to tell a customer that they are wrong is to help them figure it out on their own terms.
But owners and managers at great security companies also know that …
Once they determine that a customer is not a good fit for their business, they graciously help that customer find a provider that is a better fit for them.
“A great security company is built on the blood, sweat, and tears of its owners…”
A great security company is built on the blood, sweat, and tears of its owners and managers. But no matter how good management’s relationships are with their customers, they know that it is their officers’ performance that maintains their contract. So rather than attempting to strong-arm their officers into compliance, they empower their officers and supervisors in ways that lead to high quality service. They do this knowing that a majority of their officers are hard-working employees who want the company to be as successful as management wants it to be.
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely things that can cause a business to fail, but a majority of those things usually occur over a span of time. Hence, great owners and managers are constantly looking for and evaluating problems before they become major issues. They know that any problem that is caught early enough can be fixed.
For more on problems to look for and pay attention to, see:
Five Reasons 8 out of 10 Businesses Fail
Being a great security company means that the management team will do and has done things that their competitors probably find implausible. Whether they are physically knocking on the doors of 30 prospects a day, or firing their sales team in favor of non-traditional selling techniques, their competitors just won’t do it. Their willingness to sacrifice time, sleep, and ego will almost always guarantee their success and greatness.
5. The management team at great security companies have a deep understanding of their financials.
In the security guard industry, where contracts can be lost over pennies, they understand where every penny enters their company and where, when, and how fast it leaves. Most are not CPAs, but they are able to look at their financials and get an excellent understanding of where they stand as a company.
For more on understanding your financials, see: Financial Statements by Thomas Ittelson
I’m sure that there are dozens of other things that could be added to this list, but based on my experience, mastering these five things will put you well on your way to creating a great security company.
But even with the best intentions and diligence on your part, things can still go wrong to put your company’s future in jeopardy, and that’s what we’ll talk about next.