By Michael A. Silva, CPP, CSC
Did you know that IAPSC members collectively have over 3,000 years of law enforcement and security experience? And that the average IAPSC member has at least 20 years of experience, with some having 40 years of experience or more? And that the range of skills possessed by members is incredible and covers nearly every specialized aspect of security?
Even though the pool of talent within IAPSC is vast, many of us really don’t know much about our fellow members. I often learn quite accidentally that someone whom I know by name only is a recognized expert in a specific area that could be of benefit to my clients.
I encourage IAPSC members to tap into the rich pool of talent that our organization offers. Here are some suggestions:
- Take time to explore the member directory on the IAPSC website. Look at each member’s profile and click on the link to their website. I think that you will learn a lot and be impressed with what you see.
- Reach out to members who you don’t know and introduce yourself. Share information about what you do and learn about what they do. This can be especially helpful if you are a new member.
- Look for opportunities to partner with fellow members. This can allow you to offer services to your clients that you do not normally provide, and strengthen the depth of your project team to win more projects. Some prospective clients have concerns about awarding larger projects to small independent consulting firms and feel more comfortable with a larger company. Assembling a team of several highly qualified independent consultants can overcome this disadvantage.
- Feel free to reach out to fellow members and ask a question when you need advice in a specialized area. Most of us are glad to share our knowledge with one another and will gladly help at no charge when asked.
- When you come across opportunities that you are not qualified to perform or simply too busy to handle, always refer them to another IAPSC member. This can be done by giving the potential clients the names of specific members who you know are qualified, or by referring them to the IAPSC member directory.
- Be sure that your own profile on the IAPSC member directory is up to date and completely describes your service offerings. People can’t tap into your expertise if they don’t know about it.
Do you have further questions on how to best utilize your IAPSC membership? Reach out to IAPSC staff today at IAPSC@IAPSC.org.