Mastering Communication Skills for Security Guards
Mastering communication skills for security guards, the essential soft skill all security guards need.
Security guards play a pivotal role in maintaining safety and order in various settings, from commercial establishments to public events. While their physical presence is essential, effective communication skills are equally critical in ensuring their success in the field.
A security guard’s ability to communicate clearly and confidently can prevent incidents, de-escalate conflicts, and build trust with the public they serve. In this blog, we will delve into the importance of communication skills for security guards and offer valuable tips to help them become proficient communicators.
The Crucial Role of Communication in Security
Communication serves as the backbone of a security guard’s effectiveness. This soft skill can sometimes be overlooked or underestimated but any security professional worth their salt will tell you it’s essential to the success of a security guards’ career. You won’t get anywhere in this industry without effective communication skills.
Why are communication skills so important?
Security guards provide such a vast variety of support to their clients and the public in their role. It can vary from helping someone find a room or business in a venue, to assisting during an emergency to communicating the rules of an organization. Security guards are need advanced communication skills to effectively complete their roles, that’s why communication skills are a major focus of the security guard training.
Let’s look at some of the advanced communication skills that security guards use below.
Provide Clear Instructions
Effective communication allows guards to convey instructions clearly to individuals on the premises, such as visitors, employees, or event attendees. This ensures compliance with security protocols and procedures.
Diffuse Tense Situations
Conflict resolution often requires strong communication skills. By de-escalating tense situations through clear and empathetic communication, guards can prevent minor disputes from escalating into major incidents.
Collaborate with Team Members
In team-based security operations, smooth communication ensures that guards can work cohesively and respond quickly to emerging threats. That’s why teamwork and being comfortable collaborating with your team members is so important. A security guard is almost never working solo, there’s always a team to report back to.
Offer Reassurance
Offer reassurance and remain calm. Being approachable and capable of providing reassuring information to the public can enhance trust and cooperation. This is especially important when security guards are acting as the first emergency response providing first aid or getting everyone out of a building.
Active Listening
Security guards need to employ active listening techniques in their role, this includes;
Paying Attention
Guards need to actively listen when communicating with individuals. This means maintaining eye contact, focusing on the speaker, and avoiding distractions. People respond a lot better to discussions and even commands when they feel heard and understood.
Empathetic Understanding
Active listening involves trying to understand the emotions and concerns of others, showing empathy in challenging situations. Trying to bridge the gap in understanding during tense situations can take the threat level from an 8 to a 5. Empathy plays a very important role in how a security guard communicates.
Verbal Communication
Guards need to employ these specific verbal communication skills to excel in their role;
Clarity and Conciseness
Security guards are taught to use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon or technical terms that might confuse the general public. Keep it simple and adjust your language to meet people at their level.
Tone and Volume
Guards learn to be mindful of their tone and volume, speaking confidently yet respectfully. One of the quickest ways to escalate a situation is to raise your voice to an angry person. Remaining composed will help to deescalate the situation.
Positive Language
Using positive and polite language fosters a more amicable atmosphere and contributes to better cooperation. Being polite and friendly is going to get you better results than being stand offish.
Non-Verbal Communication
There are important non-verbal communication skills that security guards employ to maintain control and safety in their position.
Body Language and Facial Expressions
Security guards develop an awareness of their own body language and strive to maintain an open and approachable posture. They are also attentive to the body language of others, as it can provide valuable insights into the emotional state of individuals.
A friendly and approachable facial expression can help put people at ease and create a positive impression.
Crisis Communication
When the situation gets hostile the security guards get savvy with their communication skills and employ crisis communication techniques.
Staying Calm
The last thing anyone needs when things get intense is to see the security guards freaking out. During emergencies or crisis situations, maintaining composure and a calm demeanor is crucial. Panic can be contagious and escalate the situation.
Clear Instructions
In critical situations, security guards must be able to provide clear and precise instructions to ensure the safety of those present. Keep a calm head and deliver sensible clear and safe instructions to the people you are trying to protect.
Conflict Resolution
Sometimes there’ll be a need for conflict resolution in a crisis situation. Thankfully, security guards can refer to their training on this. Remaining calm and finding a way to deescalate the situation before it gets worse.
Final Thoughts
Effective communication skills are an indispensable asset for security guards. By mastering the art of active listening, verbal and non-verbal communication, and crisis management, guards can create a safer and more secure environment for everyone they serve.
Effective communication skills are an essential part of a security guards’ training, not only enhancing their ability to handle day-to-day responsibilities but also equipping them to respond effectively in critical situations.
At Asset College we understand the importance of communication skills in a security guards training. If you’re interested in knowing more about our security course you can check it out here. Or get in touch with our course advisors.
