Clarence Darrow once said, “You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom.” Bodyguards and other protection agencies identify with this line of thought since it is their very essence for existing: they spend their lives protecting others from serious bodily threats and extreme harm from unknown sources. If you have taken the first step in protecting your liberties and freedom by employing a bodyguard, it is very common to have moments of awkwardness and uncertainty when it comes to knowing how to communicate, act and go about your daily duties. Just like any first encounter, you have to establish an effective working relationship with your protective agent. Communication and asking questions are both mandatory parts of the process to better understand someone’s mannerisms, facial expressions and overall demeanor.
Questions to ask your protection agency
If you are curious about what types of questions would be best to ask when researching protection agencies, keep in mind that this will be an exceedingly close business relationship, where your bodyguard will have to grow accustomed to your personal cues, habits and particular styles of communication. Some questions you can ask your agency or personal protection agent include:
- How would you describe your professional presence?
- How much experience have you gained in the field?
- Do you use armored vehicle transportation or an executive driver?
- Do you have any code words or lingo for me to learn?
- What scenarios have you encountered previously, and how did you handle them?
- Do you have any fond memories or regrets regarding your protective career thus far?
- Does your solution have GPS capabilities?
The questions above will help you to gauge an agent’s level of professionalism, which can help you to assess the chemistry you may have with them and whether or not you will have a good combination of personalities. Not only will this assist in building the professional relationship with your agent, but it also sets the tone for being able to rely and trust them with your life.
Trust is the key
Trust is an extremely important component of this working relationship. If you cannot trust your bodyguard or the bodyguard’s agency, this will create an uncomfortable setting, since their job is to specifically meet your protection needs. Bodyguards often find themselves in awkward situations, and this affects how they react and adjust their methods of guarding your life. Lack of trust and miscommunication are dangerous elements that can have life-threatening consequences.
Keep learning about your bodyguards
After you hire your bodyguard and their organization, you must continue to learn more about them, and your habitual contact will continue to reveal more about yourself as well. Anyone working for you will adapt how they communicate based on your reactions, comments and overall appearance and conduct. Some conversational icebreakers could include asking them what they thought of a certain situation that occurred earlier, or perhaps asking them to review your daily schedule with you. This will allow you both to fine-tune what protection is necessary due to the ebb and flow of each day. Your bodyguard should be an extension of you, and just as you expect certain behavior from them, they will expect respect and consistent communication from you too. Bodyguards, protective agencies and companies supporting the security industry all exist to help people protect their personal liberties and overall wellbeing, just as Darrow stated. If you find yourself in need of any protective measures, consult with your local bodyguard agency today.
About the guest post
Bob Pazderka is the President of The Armored Group and the author of this guest post. The views, opinions and positions expressed within guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Pinkerton. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author(s) and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.
