During his 1961 inaugural address, John F. Kennedy famously declared “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” This philosophy of doing something for others instead of expecting others to do something for you is also very relevant in security leadership. Too often, supervisors, managers and directors focus so much on what their team should be doing for them and the company that they forget about what they should be doing for their employees.
A security leader cannot be successful if they don’t have the support of their team. Employees who don’t feel appreciated and trusted by their leaders are much more likely to quit, file grievances, ignore policy and procedures, and shirk responsibilities. Your team also needs to know that you’re their advocate, willing to help them develop and hone their skills for professional advancement opportunities.