Security Leadership and Management

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In the world of sports, it’s all about reaching the next level: the World Cup in soccer, the Stanley Cup in hockey, the Masters in golf, the World Series in baseball, the Super Bowl in football and the U.S. Open in tennis, among others. Name the sport, there’s a championship to win. But first, the facilities – the stadiums, arenas, golf courses and other facilities in which the sports are played – have to be secure.

Adding business value. Getting a seat at the table. Running security like a business. Aligning security with the organization. These are the contents of the Holy Grail of security leadership. Everybody talks about them. Everybody wants them. But most security leaders view them as the stuff of legend – great for motivation, but unattainable in reality.

What does it take to motivate today’s security officer? If you know, please tell me. I have tried to get the most from every worker I encounter. When I fail, I cannot help but wonder what is wrong with my approach or with me. I’m open to new ideas and will read what the latest experts have to say. Lately, I have been motivated to try the suggestions from two authors who wrote books on motivation and human nature: one book by Daniel Pink titled “Drive - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” is a look beyond the traditional carrot and stick approach. The other is by Paul Lawrence and Nitin Nohria and is titled “Driven How Human Nature Shapes our Choices.” I think motivation and choices are two inseparable concepts.

The war for talent is ramping up and any business owner, hiring manager, or HR pro will tell they’re receiving plenty of applicants, but how many of them are truly qualified?

One of my favorite quotes, hung prominently in my office, reads: “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” —Peter F. Drucker   But what are those “right things?” What makes a good leader?

Sometimes finding the solution to a security problem is about changing how you look at it. This can be a challenge, particularly if the problem is costly or is a significant safety threat. Our first reaction may be to find the most familiar or simplest way to make an immediate impact on the issue. But true security leadership requires us to stop and think about the problem through the eyes of the business and its goals, and to change our tactics based on what we see. One good example of this is how companies have dealt with the problem of theft of copper and other valuable metals.

Security practitioners from across the industry will find some exciting new offerings at the ASIS International 57^th Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2011) in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 19-22. A new partnership with (ISC)² (“ISC-squared”) broadens the educational program and opens valuable new networking opportunities. In total, this year’s Seminar will offer attendees more than 180 educational sessions across 22 tracks.

The shuttle Endeavour launched into space this morning with much fanfare. Behind the scenes, however, securing the shuttle, crew and the entire NASA operation, is not an easy task, yet it's done with much skill and grace under pressure.

An interview is a structured question-and-answer session designed for a purpose – to elicit information.