From Good to Great: Security Professional's Guide to "First Who, Then What"

Jim Collins' landmark business book Good to Great has transformed how organizations think about excellence. While Collins studied major corporations, his principle of "First Who, Then What" holds profound relevance for security professionals working the front lines every day.

The Core Principle

Collins discovered that great companies didn't begin by setting a vision and then finding people to execute it. Instead, they got the right people on the bus first, then figured out where to drive it. For security guards, this insight challenges the traditional approach to the profession.

What This Means on the Ground

As a security guard, you might think your role is predetermined: patrol routes, monitor cameras, check credentials. But "First Who, Then What" suggests something different. Before you can truly excel at your post, you need to ask yourself if you're the right person for this role, and whether you're surrounding yourself with the right colleagues.

The best security teams aren't built by simply filling shifts. They're built by hiring people with integrity, situational awareness, and genuine commitment to protecting others. When you have the right people, they adapt to challenges, take initiative during emergencies, and maintain standards even when no one is watching.

Practical Application

Start by evaluating your own fit. Do you have the temperament for long periods of vigilance? Can you stay calm under pressure? Are you someone who takes pride in the details? If the answer is yes, you're the right "who."

Next, observe your team. The strongest security operations happen when guards hold each other accountable, share intelligence about potential threats, and cover for each other's weaknesses. If you're working with people who cut corners or treat the job as just a paycheck, your effectiveness is limited no matter how good your procedures are.

Building Your Bus

You can't always choose your colleagues, but you can model the behavior you want to see. Show up on time, stay alert throughout your shift, and treat everyone with professionalism. The right people will notice and raise their game. The wrong people will eventually move on.

Collins also emphasized that great organizations weren't afraid to make personnel changes. While you may not have hiring authority, you can influence the culture by providing honest feedback to supervisors about who strengthens the team and who undermines it.

The Payoff

When security teams get "First Who" right, everything else falls into place. Training becomes more effective because engaged professionals want to learn. Protocols get followed because people care about outcomes. Crisis response improves because the team trusts each other.

The difference between a good security guard and a great one often isn't about physical capability or even experience. It's about being the kind of person who brings out excellence in others while maintaining personal standards that don't waver.

Your post might be ordinary, but your approach to it doesn't have to be. By embodying the "First Who" principle, you transform security from a job into a profession worthy of respect.