You are a security guard at a retail store, you identify a suspicious armed man who steps into the store.

The situation above could escalate really quickly. The best thing to do is to take three deep breaths and evaluate what is really going on. ➜ Is the suspect alone? ➜ Are there people waiting for him outside? ➜ Where is he going to? ➜ Did he see you? In situations of danger, knee-jerking reactions are our brain's choice as we go into survival mode. We tend to perceive risks not logically but emotionally. Fear response limits our thinking process. So most of the time, in complex situations, you better take deep breaths and think about what you will do. Of course, compliance is part of professionalism. So you must also take into account your company's policies and procedures when dealing with incidents like these. Besides, it is important to be aware of state and federal laws for security guards regarding imminent danger.

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash References: Learn About Being a Security Officer by Indeed.com Decision-making in a crisis: Understanding the brain by Security News Desk The Effective Security Officer’s Training Manual, Chapter 5 - Professionalism by Ralph Brislin, CPP