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 The Importance of Observation and Awareness for Security Guards

You've been hired as a security guard. It's your first week on the job, and you want to make a good impression. Paying attention and staying aware of your surroundings will be the first step towards it. As a security guard, observation and mindfulness can make the difference between a mundane shift and preventing a serious incident. With proper training, techniques like active listening, scanning, and focusing on details will become second nature. 

As you build these skills, you will gain confidence and become an invaluable member of the security team. But it all starts with the right mindset. Approach each day with curiosity and care. See the big picture without overlooking what's right in front of you. Staying alert and engaged will serve you well, no matter what comes your way. Let's start with the role of a security guard.

The Role of a Security Guard

As a security guard, your main role is to observe and be aware of your surroundings.

You need to constantly survey the area you're assigned to monitor. Look for anything suspicious like unauthorized individuals, packages, or vehicles. Listen for strange noises or sounds of distress. Always be on alert at all times because threats can emerge at any moment.

Carefully observe people and identify suspicious behavior while on the site. Look for signs like nervousness, concealed items, or casing the location. Trust your instincts, if something feels off, it probably is. Don't forget to report anything suspicious immediately to your supervisor.

Your presence alone can deter unlawful behavior and defuse volatile situations. It's important for you to maintain confidence and authority in your role as a guardian. If confronted, try to de-escalate tensions through respect and reason. Only use force as an absolute last resort in self-defense or defense of another's life. The most effective security guards prevent violence rather than react to it.

With diligent observation, awareness of your surroundings, and effective communication, security guards play an important role in creating safe environments and thwarting threats before they become dangerous. Staying vigilant, detecting issues early and de-escalating conflicts are all part of the job. FrontGuard Security Training provides online security guard training courses to help security guards develop these critical skills.

Why Observation and Awareness Are Critical

As a security guard, your job relies heavily on your ability to observe your surroundings and stay aware of any potential issues. Without sharp observation and awareness skills, you won't be effective in your role. 

Observation, the art of carefully watching and scrutinizing one's surroundings, serves as the cornerstone of a security guard's duties. With vigilant observation, a security guard can spot potential threats before they escalate into full-blown emergencies. It's crucial for high performance.

Complementing observation is awareness, the state of being fully attuned to one's surroundings and potential threats. An aware security guard trusts his instincts, recognizes when something feels off, and requires further investigation.

How to Improve Your Observation Skills

Here are some tips to strengthen your observation abilities:

Pay Attention to Details

Notice small details about people, vehicles, and the environment. Pay attention to features like hair color, tattoos, scars or clothing. For vehicles, note the make, model, color and license plate number. Also observe the little things that are out of place or unusual. 

Scan Your Surroundings

Continuously scan the area you’re monitoring. Don’t focus on any one thing for too long. Scan from left to right, slowly and deliberately. Look for anything that seems out of the ordinary. You can respond fast if you notice potential threats early.

Listen Actively

Use your ears as well as your eyes. Listen for unusual noises, sounds of distress or anything that seems out of place. Pay attention to changes in noise levels or patterns. Listen for vehicles approaching or people yelling. The sounds you hear can provide useful information and context for what you’re observing.

Trust Your Instincts

If something feels off to you, don't ignore it. Your instincts can alert you to potential threats even before you consciously observe them. If something feels off, do a double check of the area and try to determine what's triggering your internal alarm bells. It's always better to be safe than sorry, so report anything suspicious to the proper authorities, including your supervisor.

How to Develop Situational Awareness

As a security guard, one of the most important skills you can develop is situational awareness. This means actively observing your surroundings and understanding how events are unfolding around you. With the help of strong situational awareness, you’ll be able to identify potential threats early and take appropriate action.

Look for anomalies

Pay close attention to anything that seems out of the ordinary. Look for anything that seems out of place. Notice if anything about the environment has changed. Small details that seem off could indicate a threat to security. 

Monitor entry and exit points

Carefully observe all doors and other access points to the area you’re assigned to. Note who enters and exits, and watch for unauthorized access. Always be on alert for any signs of forced entry or signs of tampering. Controlled access can help to maintain security.

Stay alert

It’s easy to become complacent when things seem routine, but you must remain vigilant. To stay alert, keep moving around, avoid distraction, and actively scan your environment. Take notice of subtle changes over time. Fatigue and boredom are threats to your situational awareness, so be sure to remain focused on the task at hand.

Communicate with others

Talk to others on the security team and share information about anything suspicious you’ve noticed. Get updates from them as well about what’s going on in other areas. More data can help you to understand the overall situation. Report relevant details to local law enforcement if needed.

Stay Engaged

It’s easy to become bored or tired during long shifts, but you must remain engaged. To stay engaged, walk around your patrol area, don’t just sit in one spot. Interact with people passing by. Stay on your feet as much as possible. Drink water to stay hydrated and alert. Avoid heavy meals that can make you drowsy.

Minimize Distractions

This is an important one. Put away your phone and AirPods while on duty. Don’t become distracted chatting with your friends. Remain focused on observing your surroundings. If you do need to use a radio to communicate with coworkers, keep transmissions brief and professional.

Take Regular Breaks

It’s also important to take occasional short breaks to rest your mind and body. Step away for a few minutes to get fresh air, stretch, or splash cold water on your face. Keep breaks small so you don’t lose focus. Let your supervisor know when you are going on break and when you return to your post.

Conclusion

So, in summary, the key takeaways are to stay vigilant, keep your eyes open, and don't let your mind wander when on duty. As a security guard, you need to be hyper-aware of your surroundings at all times. Make it a habit to actively observe what's going on, scanning for any red flags or suspicious activity. And don't forget, safety is a team effort - communicate with your colleagues to maximize coverage. Being alert and aware could make all the difference in keeping the premises and people secure. Apply these tips and you'll be on your way to becoming an effective security guard.

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