Crowd control is critical to keeping people, equipment and property safe during large congregations such as conventions, concerts, rallies, demonstrations and conferences. It is also important for maintaining peace and order within establishments such as corporate buildings, malls and department stores. But how do you know you've hired the best crowd control personnel? Here are 5 key qualities to look for:
Training and license
Crowd control personnel work in a specialized industry. Before hiring one, always check what type of training he or she has undergone and what type of license he or she holds. To comply with existing laws and regulations, anyone working in security and crowd control is required to undergo a specified number of hours of training and practice in order to ensure that they know what their job entails.
Background and experience
Another key quality to look for in the best crowd control personnel is experience. The type of work these people do entails a lot of responsibilities. Very often, they need to perform several tasks at once, acting as security, contact persons and PR officers. The multi-layered responsibilities of a crowd control expert requires someone who has a good understanding of their job and what they are supposed to do in certain situations, something that only an experienced individual will be able to successfully perform.
Ability to impose rules and regulations
The best crowd control personnel are those who have strong leadership abilities. Very often, security personnel will have to implement strict rules and regulations in order to ensure crowd safety. As leaders, they need to convince people that these rules should be followed in order to avoid problems and threats. Someone who is unable to make crowds believe in him or her will not be effective in ensuring that safety procedures are in place.
Excellent communication skills
The best crowd control personnel must be able to communicate well with people. Having good to excellent written and speaking skills is ideal because it helps them provide information in a clear and understandable manner. This skill is critical especially in tense situations where people tend to be nervous or excitable. If the process of communication is clear, people are less likely to react in a negative manner.
Calmness and ability to think straight in emergency situations
You'll know that you hired the best crowd control personnel if they are calm and capable of performing their duties in spite of the noise and chaos surrounding them. Calmness is also an important quality since it translates well to the crowd. if the security personnel can think straight, he or she is not likely to make costly mistakes.
