In companies specialized in surveillance or in companies that use their own security guards, the activity of supervision has an unquestionable importance. Supervisors are primarily responsible for the correct and efficient execution of daily surveillance tasks and also for protecting the lives of those who hire the services of the professionals under supervision service supervisors.
If we look at the different surveillance companies, we will see that the name "Supervisor" is used very interchangeably. But, what are really the missions that, almost necessarily, a supervisor must perform?
The supervisor is the link between the management of the company (in the case of surveillance companies we speak of operational management), which is the upper echelon, and the teams that perform at the level of execution of the tasks. Supervision in the field of security has to do directly with the provision of services, the organization of surveillance at the posts, the establishment of standards, training, training and evaluation of the level of customer satisfaction with the services received.
The missions of a supervisor should not be confused with those of a "manager" or "foreman". The supervisor, necessarily has to worry about the results of the work, and according to the current quality concepts, must strive so that those results are better and better. When it comes to safety activity, the professionals involved work in the midst of pressure, misunderstandings, lack of resources, therefore, for the service to be of quality, the supervisor must try to overcome such obstacles.
The supervisor not only has to carry out a set of missions (Results), but also be concerned with how those missions are performed (Processes). To the extent that subordinates manage to recognize the effort in daily work, there is a noticeable improvement in the performance pattern of the safety team.
The security supervisor must be able to inspire in his subordinates a "love of art" for the task they perform, making them understand that it is exceptionally important. It is a serious effort of an "educational" nature, in which surveillance service techniques must not only be taught but also emerge in men - who often do not give due importance to the activity they carry out - values and feelings of professionalism and search for perfection in what they do. Only in this way will they be able to inspire in all other officials and in the public in general, the consequent respect for those who risk their lives while carrying out a high-risk activity.
Duties of a good security supervisor:
1. - Know your activity perfectly, seeking constant improvement and technical updating. Keep in mind that your professional activity requires a range of knowledge that is not exhausted, so you must be constantly learning.
2. - Know yourself. Have the capacity for self-criticism and try to be better as a human being.
3. - Know your men, take care of their welfare and treat them with dignity and respect.
4. - Keep your men well informed, within what the Principle of compartmentalisation of information allows.
5. - Always check if the orders have been well understood, executed and audited.
6- Inspire professionalism and team spirit in your subordinates.
7. - Make decisions at the right time and correctly.
8. - Assume full responsibility for their actions
9. - Inspire respect and trust in subordinates.
10. - Never ask your team for what is beyond their capacity.
11. - Become a true example of what you expect from your subordinates.