Training for security officers isn’t one size fits all. Security professionals face different risks, challenges, and expectations depending on the sector, location, and client they work for. That's why customized training programs are necessary to ensure operational success. As such, GardaWorld’s approach is to continuously adapt its training to the diverse and changing needs of our clients and security officers.
In this blog post, you will learn how our training program works, how it differs from the competition, and how it benefits our security officers and clients.
What is the core training that every security officer receives at GardaWorld?
Step 1: Licensing
Step 2: Welcome to GardaWorld
Step 3: Specific site trainings
Step 4: Client specific trainings
The core security training that every officer receives depends on the licensing requirements of the state, county, or city where they work. GardaWorld meets or exceeds all the legal standards for security guard training in every jurisdiction where it operates. When the area in which the officer is posted doesn’t have any specific legal requirements, GardaWorld has partnered with industry leading providers to provide those officers the initial basic training needed to excel in their positions. Initial training may be up to 40 hours of coursework covering topics such as security awareness, report writing, fire and emergency response, use of force, patrol techniques, and more.
In addition to these basic requirements, every officer receives the Welcome to GardaWorld course, which introduces new hires to GardaWorld's culture, values, policies, and procedures, and sets the tone for building a culture of excellence. The course covers topics such as understanding our core values – Integrity, Vigilance, Trust, and Respect – our commitment to world-class customer service, and our inverted pyramid organizational structure.
However, GardaWorld goes beyond the core training adapting to the client, site, and role so that every officer follows a unique learning path.
How does GardaWorld customize its security officers’ training to its clients’ needs?
At GardaWorld, we work closely with our clients to understand their objectives, identify their risks, and design custom learning paths. A learning path is a set of courses that a security officer must complete to work at a particular site or sector. For example, a security officer working at a hospital may have a different learning path than a security officer working at a bank.
An individual learning path may include:
Client-specific courses:
These are courses that are developed or provided by the client to train security officers on their policies, procedures, and standards. For example, at colleges or universities, security officers may receive training in campus specific security report writing.
Sector-specific courses:
These are courses that are relevant to the sector or industry that the client operates in. In healthcare security, officers must learn the principles of de-escalation in challenging situations.
Role-specific courses:
These are courses that are related to the specific function that the security officer performs at a site. A patrol driver doing rounds at bank branch locations will receive different training from a concierge officer in charge of access control at a corporate campus.
By customizing training programs to clients' needs, GardaWorld is able to ensure that its security officers are prepared, qualified, and confident to perform their duties and provide exceptional service.
Example of a Custom Learning Path in the Finance Sector Patrol
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Basic Principles of Active Shooter Response
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Patrol – Driving safety
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Interaction Principles for De-Escalation Success
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The Essential Component of De-Escalation and Conflict Resolution
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Driver Safety Orientation
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LE Bloodborne Pathogens Safety
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Non-verbal Communication
As Grant Thompson, Vice President Organizational Development explains, "Our training programs are not off-the-shelf solutions, but rather customized solutions that reflect the unique needs and expectations of each client. We don't train for the sake of training, we train to educate our people so they can provide phenomenal service."
How does GardaWorld’s approach to training its security officers differ from the competition?
While security companies may solely rely on courses offered by third-party providers, GardaWorld’s has a hybrid approach and creates its own courses that are tailored, interactive, and comprehensive. A dedicated team of learning and development specialists design and deliver courses that address the specific needs and challenges of each client or situation. These courses are based on the core competencies essential for operational success and are assessed to ensure they are effective and impactful.
GardaWorld also invests in training its trainers, ensuring that they are passionate about what they teach to new security guards. They use a variety of methods and tools to engage them, such as simulations, scenarios, quizzes, videos, etc. More importantly, they focus on how to make people feel valued, respected, and motivated, following the motto by Maya Angelou: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
It’s really in the details. For instance, if a security officer on patrol double-parks and blocks the entrance to the ATM vestibule that they are visiting, they will anger potential customers trying to access the bank. Conversely, if they open the door to a customer walking in and greet them warmly, the customer will remember that positive experience. Customer service is at the heart of GardaWorld’s philosophy.
How are GardaWorld training programs built to nurture its security officers?
At GardaWorld, training isn’t a one-time event for new security guards, just a compliance check. It is a continuous process of learning and development. Security officers are valued because GardaWorld’s success rests on the quality of its officers. They are nurtured over the long-term so that they have the skills, knowledge and attitude that go above and beyond expectations.
Therefore, GardaWorld’s security training program is built to:
Reinforce core values:
Courses are infused with our core values of Integrity, Trust, Respect, and Vigilance. Security officers are reminded of what GardaWorld stands for and how we live and breathe our values in everything we do.
Empower our security officers:
Security officers are given the tools and resources that they need to perform their duties and solve problems. They can share their feedback, suggestions, and ideas to improve our services and processes through our account management structure.
Motivate our security officers:
We recognize and reward our security officers for their achievements, contributions, and excellence by providing them with opportunities for career advancement and growth.
By nurturing our security officers through our continuous training program, we foster a culture of engagement, loyalty, and excellence. We also create a positive impact on our clients, who benefit from having well-trained, professional, and reliable security officers.
"We invest in our people, because they are the ones who make the difference for our clients" explains Grant Thompson, Vice President Organizational Development, GardaWorld Security Services - US.
GardaWorld's approach to training its security officers is a key component to its operational success. It provides security guards with the skills, knowledge, and attitude that enable them to perform their duties effectively and efficiently, while also providing excellent customer service and support. GardaWorld's training programs are customized, built to nurture security professionals with the skills to go above and beyond the clients' needs and expectations. It’s what sets us apart from other security providers.
