Two Weeks In: The Time I Helped Make a Life-Saving Decision

Imagine being just two weeks into a new job and advising a renowned organisation founded by a well-known public figure to change their game plan. Sounds daunting, right? Well, in 2005, I did just that, and they were grateful for my input!

Assessing risks and communicating them in plain English is a must-have skill for security professionals. Let me walk you through my experience. I took on a role as a security adviser for an organisation tasked to oversee the 2005 elections in southern Ethiopia. But, on election day, things got interesting.

The primary voting centre, buzzing with anticipation, opened later than planned. As time ticked on, the crowd's patience wore thin. In an attempt to control the crowd, local security officers fired warning shots into the air. The situation took a heart-wrenching turn when, amidst the chaos, an older woman collapsed and tragically lost her life.

My pre-deployment research and ground intel made me aware of potential threats in the area. The region was a melting pot of tribal tensions, political rivalries, and unresolved disputes. The potential for a violent reaction was evident, especially with many nearby having access to firearms and even explosives.

Given the importance of this election post, it was a challenging decision. On one hand, the observation was crucial for a transparent democratic process. On the other, the safety of our team was paramount. Trusting my logical process for assessing risk and the available data, I presented my findings and concerns to my client. My message was clear: despite no direct intelligence, the risks outweighed the benefits, and it was time to rethink our strategy.

I proposed an immediate evacuation.

After a calm conversation with the organisation's headquarters in the US, they acknowledged my concerns. Safety was their top priority, so we swiftly moved our team to a pre-arranged, secure location. It turned out to be a wise decision. We received news of an explosion at the voting centre just hours later.

So, how did I navigate this high-pressure situation?

Deep Understanding: I made it my mission to know every detail of our operation and understand what was at stake and my client's appetite for risk.

Assessing Threats: I understood the local threat landscape and how to evaluate it in a logical manner that my client could understand.

Clear Communication: I presented the risks in a simple yet effective manner, allowing my client to grasp the urgency and make the right decision.

Being Prepared: I was ready with a backup plan.

Risk management isn't just about understanding threats; it's about aligning those threats with an organisation's goals and appetite for risk. In this instance, I had to gauge a clear threat to our team in one location.

Effective risk management is the foundation of any security management system, and corporate security professionals must manage many assets exposed to a myriad of physical and cyber threats globally and daily.

This is why I have spent the last ten years developing the HawkSight SRM platform, receiving continual feedback from Fortune 500, FTSE 100, NGOs and security consultancies worldwide.

Are you interested in learning more about effective risk management? Feel free to reach out!