Common Sense Approach to Situational Awareness for Security Guards
Trust Your Gut, But Verify
Your intuition developed over years of life experience. When something feels off, it usually is. That person lingering near the loading dock without apparent purpose, the car circling the parking lot multiple times, or the visitor whose story doesn't quite add up—these gut feelings are your brain processing subtle cues faster than you can consciously analyze them.
However, common sense also means not jumping to conclusions. Verify your suspicions through observation before taking action. The "suspicious" person might be lost, waiting for someone, or simply unfamiliar with the area. Balance vigilance with fairness.
Establish What's Normal
You can't spot the abnormal if you don't know what normal looks like. Spend your first weeks on any assignment learning the rhythm of your site. What time do employees arrive? Which doors see the most traffic? Who are the regular visitors and vendors? When do deliveries typically occur?
Common sense tells us that a delivery truck at 3 AM is questionable, but only if you know deliveries normally happen during business hours. A person in the building on Sunday might be concerning, unless you know the accounting team regularly works weekends during month-end close.
The Power of Observation
Common sense observation means using all your senses, not just your eyes. Listen for sounds that don't belong—breaking glass, raised voices, or unusual mechanical noises. Notice smells like smoke, gas, or chemicals. Feel vibrations that might indicate machinery problems or structural issues.
Ask yourself basic questions constantly: Who is here that shouldn't be? What's missing that should be here? Where are the exits if I need them? When did that person arrive? Why is that door propped open? How would I respond if something happened right now?
Avoid Complacency's Trap
The biggest threat to situational awareness is routine. After walking the same patrol route a hundred times, it's human nature to go on autopilot. Common sense demands you fight this tendency deliberately.
Change your routine when possible. Take different routes, vary your timing, and actively look for changes each time. Play mental games: count fire extinguishers, note which cars are in the lot, or identify potential hiding spots. Keep your brain engaged.
Know Your Limitations
Common sense means recognizing when you're not at your best. If you're exhausted, distracted by personal problems, or feeling ill, your awareness suffers. Acknowledge this to yourself and compensate by being extra deliberate in your observations.
It also means knowing when to call for backup. Your job is to observe and report, not to be a hero. If a situation exceeds your training or authority, common sense says to maintain a safe distance, gather information, and get help.
Position Yourself Strategically
Where you stand matters. Common sense positioning means keeping your back to walls when possible, maintaining clear sightlines, staying near exits, and avoiding positions where you can be easily surprised or cornered.
Stand where you can see both the area you're monitoring and approaching people. Don't get so focused on one thing that you develop tunnel vision and miss threats from other directions.
The Bottom Line
Situational awareness isn't about being paranoid or seeing threats everywhere. It's about being present, observant, and thoughtful in your work. Apply the same common sense you use in daily life—stay alert, trust your instincts while verifying facts, learn what's normal, and communicate clearly.
Your greatest tool isn't your radio, flashlight, or access card. It's the space between your ears and your willingness to stay engaged with your environment. Use it wisely.