As a qualified protector, you've invested heavily in your practical skill set to get you where you are. Would you throw all that away by overlooking soft skills development?

In this edition of On the Circuit, we will look at how you can utilize your soft skill set to gain a huge advantage over the competition.

Once you realize what you're leaving on the table, you'll owe it to yourself and your clients to focus on improving these vital areas, making yourself indispensable in the process.

Today, we're going to explore what you should focus on and provide advice and suggestions on how to improve in all these areas.

Let's get into it!

THE NEED TO KNOW

Pentagon's Worst Nightmare: Classified Docs Leaked, Allies Spied On, and National Security at Risk

From Chaos to Cooperation: Afghanistan's New Stance on Regional Security

NYPD Unleashes Robo-Dog: Digidog Returns Amid Controversy and High-Tech Reinforcements

French Watchdog Digs into ChatGPT: OpenAI Grapples with Rising European Data Privacy Concerns

Iran Flexes Naval Muscle: Tensions Rise as Thousands of Vessels Gather in Persian Gulf

The Soft Skills Advantage - The Secret to Success in Executive Protection

Suppose we accept that being an effective protector is more than just honing physical abilities and tactical knowledge and that it's also about nurturing soft skills. How do we develop and improve these essential attributes?

1. Self-Assessment

Before working on our soft skills, we must identify our strengths and areas for improvement. Take the time to reflect on past experiences and interactions with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders. Be open to receiving feedback from trusted peers and associates to gain an objective perspective on the current state of your soft skills.

2. Training and Education

There are numerous courses and workshops available that focus on developing soft skills for professionals. While there are programs tailored specifically for the executive protection industry, there is a lot of excellent transferable training from thought leaders outside the industry.

For instance, Dale Carnegie Training offers courses on fostering interpersonal skills that help build better relationships with clients, colleagues and managers.

3. Practice and Application

Soft skills improve with practice, like the hard skills we train in the dojo and on the range. Be mindful and look for opportunities to apply what you've learned from training to real-life situations. Seek opportunities to practice your soft skills in non-operational settings, such as networking events. If you need to be a more confident communicator, consider joining a public speaking club.

4. Continuous Learning

Stay committed to your personal and professional growth by regularly seeking new resources, articles, and books on soft skills development. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices to ensure your skills remain relevant and effective. Connect with your peers and learn from others' experiences. BBA Connect and NABA Protector are both welcoming communities that support protectors in their career development.

CIRCUIT MAGAZINE PODCAST

Due Diligence on Your Current or Prospective Principal | Colin Tansley

You might have a good grasp of your principal's threat footprint, but how much do you know about them as a current or prospective client?

• When do you need to call in legal or investigative help for due diligence?

• What are the worst case scenarios you might uncover?

• How can you map business associates of your principal and how can you keep that information secure?

• Is all of this information 'OSINT' and to what extent is it 'Open Source' if so?

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FROM THE PAGES OF THE CIRCUIT MAGAZINE

The Soft Skills Advantage - The Secret to Success in Executive Protection

In the realm of security and executive protection, technical expertise is vital. Quite simply, you cannot do the job without it. However, in that regard, you are no different to everyone else in your field. It is mastery of the soft skills where you'll differentiate yourself and stand out. Remember, clients will rarely witness your well-refined hard skills, but they will judge you on your interpersonal skills and attention to detail.

As security professionals, we're always looking for ways to enhance our skills and grow our careers. In this article, Jon Moss shares invaluable tips from his personal experiences on why soft skills are essential in executive protection.

Discover the five key soft skills he believes can make or break a successful protection detail:

• Communication Skills

• Assertiveness

• Teamwork and Collaboration

• Attention to Detail

• Etiquette, Protocols, and Cultural Sensitivity

The practical examples in the article remind us that our success as executive protection agents relies heavily on our ability to master these soft skills.

Read the article for inspiration on how to refine these important soft skills

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GEOPOLITICAL ANALYSIS - RANE

What Can Joe Biden Achieve in Visit to Northern Ireland

President Joe Biden's four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. His agenda includes meetings with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Northern Irish republican and unionist leaders, a speech at the Republic of Ireland's Parliament, and events celebrating US-Irish ancestral ties. Despite the US being a guarantor of the deal, Biden's visit is unlikely to resolve the political stalemate or improve the economic climate in Northern Ireland.

The European Union and the United Kingdom reached a compromise on the Brexit deal implementation in Northern Ireland, but the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) rejected it, arguing it weakens ties to the UK and strengthens ties to the Republic of Ireland. This has led to the DUP's refusal to form a government coalition with the Sinn Fein party, resulting in no functioning government since the May 2022 election. Biden may urge both parties to form a coalition, but this is unlikely to end the stalemate as the US avoids interfering with domestic UK or Northern Irish politics.

With Northern Ireland facing a political and economic crisis, isolated episodes of unrest or violence remain a high risk. The region is grappling with high inflation, weak economic climate, and low salaries, exacerbating the impact of the UK's cost of living crisis. This, along with long-standing political and sectarian disputes, increases the risk of social unrest, clashes between republican and unionist groups, low-scale acts of terrorism, and criminal activities. Although the UK government raised the terrorism threat level, widespread terrorism or violence remains unlikely due to limited political or social support and reduced resources and capabilities of various groups in the region.

During Biden's visit, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will reportedly attempt to restart negotiations for a UK-US free trade agreement. However, progress is expected to be slow due to diverging views on agri-food standards and potential US involvement in the UK's public healthcare system.

Read the full article >

UPCOMING EVENTS

Counter Terror Expo: 17 - 18 May 2023 - ExCel, London

Innovation Meets Security: Counter Terror Expo Showcases Cutting-Edge Solutions to Global Threats

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ELSEWHERE, ON THE CIRCUIT...

Smoke Bomb Scare: Japan's Prime Minister Evacuated from Rally Amid Heightened Security Concerns

Takeaways from the Circuit:

After former PM Shinzo Abe's assassination and leading up to the G7 summit, this incident raises red flags about Japan's security protocols for politicians. Undoubtedly, the public nature of political events contributed to this breach but beyond that, there does seem to be a seemingly lax security attitude towards Japanese protection of political leaders.

The broader implications could be reduced public confidence in security and a reluctance to attend political gatherings. One would hope that a comprehensive review of security protocols is undertaken before the G7 summit.

Security professionals charged with protecting public figures have the unenviable task of balancing keeping their principals safe and allowing a reasonable amount of public access and engagement. Therefore, it's essential we are willing and open to regularly reevaluating our procedures and not becoming creatures of habit, dogmatically following rigid protocols.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK...

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