The Attitude Factor
In the bodyguard business your attitude matters a great deal. On and off the job you should treat others like you want to be treated, unless prevailing situations dictate otherwise. Your attitude will determine your success as a professional bodyguard. Those with the wrong attitude trying to enter the bodyguard industry don’t generally achieve much professionally. The following is a list of the wrong type of attitudes to avoid:
Gangster Bodyguard
Type Also known as tough guy; these types of aspiring bodyguards often display inappropriate body language, are overly aggressive, often uses slang words or foul language among fellow bodyguard to impress or even intimidate. However, most veteran bodyguards realize that these types are often inexperienced in the field, have little actual bodyguard training, are poorly educated and don’t possess much in the way of marksmanship or self-defense skills. Avoid this attitude type; act confident and business-like at all times.
Know It All Bodyguard Type
The bodyguard industry is filled with new bodyguards that have entered the trade from another professional who act like they know everything about bodyguarding and refuse to learn or accept advice. In reality each bodyguard assignment you go on you learn something new. However, the know it all types often criticize the operational techniques of other bodyguards in the field. They constantly express their opinion or make judgment upon a more experienced and trained bodyguard and pretend to know all the methods. However, in actuality they don’t know much and their opinion on bodyguard tradecraft is severely lacking. These types have the opinion that their bodyguard teammates are less intelligent than them. Don’t be one of these know it all types; when your bodyguard supervisor or teammate talk to you keep your ears open and mouth shut.
Conceited Bodyguard Type
The conceited type of bodyguard is one who is excessively proud of himself. He may appear vain, arrogant or snobbish to his own teammates. The puzzling thing is he is new to the industry and hasn’t accomplished anything yet to be proud about. This happens frequently when the rookie bodyguard purchases a new suit, new pair of shoes and a pair of designer shades. There is nothing wrong about looking good, clean and fresh and having female admirers look at you when you walk passed, but do not get big headed. Don’t be full of yourself; an attitude of pride or arrogance can cause wreckage to a bodyguard career before it even has a chance to start. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t think about yourself, but instead be concerned about your principals and teammates safety and wellbeing. Thinking about yourself or centering everything around yourself will kill your career.
Old School Bodyguard Type
Although old school bodyguards are looked upon with high regard and respect, they need to move into the modern era, become updated when it comes to technology and stop saying “back in the day” so often. Technology has become a crucial part of the bodyguard’s daily life nowadays. Start studying and getting to know how to utilize the latest technology that bodyguards use on assignments. This includes: GPS navigation devices (used when performing route assessments), smartphones and other mobile devices, low-light video camera and digital cameras (used for advance work), and other technology (IED detection, bulletproof vests, surveillance technology, etc.). This will enable you to be equipped with the latest technology available and know how to use it; you’ll still be “old school” but not act like a fool.
There are many more attitude types in the industry that wasn’t covered in this short article; it would take an entire book to cover them all. Just keep your attitude as professional as humanely possible and you will go far in the bodyguard industry. Keep safe and God speed.
About Doc Rogers: He is the author of best seller Corporate Executive Protection – A Manual for Inspiring Corporate Bodyguards and the newly released eBook entitled How to Build Your Own Executive Protection Business. Doc is president and CEO of International Corporate Executive Protection Ltd., has earned a Ph.D. in Security Administration from Southwest University, is a Certified Protection Specialist from Executive Security International, a decorated former veteran police officer and is SE Asia’s leading expert on executive protection and corporate security.
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