One thing I’ve always found fascinating in my observations is that as close protection agents, we tend to define ourselves based on the status of our Principal. Those of us actively working in the industry for a while have likely experienced, or at least witnessed, the following at one point or another (on either side of the coin). The scenario is often a variation of this:
You are a skilled protection agent assigned to escort your client to a public event. Other VIPs are in attendance; one is better known than your Principal. You notice that the host’s support staff and event planners seem to fawn over some others in attendance to a larger degree. That is not an issue; however, you also seem to notice that the other bodyguard, now in a secure environment, seems too important even to acknowledge you.
Perhaps the two of you are standing side by side at the perimeter of a large banquet area, with eyes on your respective clients, and any attempt to be social yet still professional are rebuffed. Of course, this could be attributed to the agent being focused on the task at hand; perhaps his Principal has a higher degree of potential threats directed at him — things you, of course, would not be privy to. But in some cases, the agent gives off the aura, intentionally or not, that since he’s with the biggest fish in the room, that means he too has no time for the “little people.” In this case, an operator with a lesser-known client.
Over the years, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work with some of the biggest and most recognizable stars in the entertainment industry. With that said, I know all too well that if you are around a superstar long enough, human nature kicks in, and that sense of “importance” or “entitlement” rubs off on the agent. As protectors, we need to be careful not to sour relationships with our peers just because Principal X has more clout than Principal Y.
At the end of the day, how would the client’s finances or fame affect how we go about the essence of our job? The number of dollar signs in the Protectee’s bank account or the number of blockbuster films under their belt should not affect how we respond to situations proactively or reactively. They also shouldn’t isolate us or give us a reason to negatively prejudge other agents.
Hubris is an ancient Greek word meaning extreme pride or arrogance as it relates to the overestimation of one’s own competence, particularly when the person is operating from a position of power. This word, I think, sums up the condition some of us have at times found ourselves in, myself included. The key to overcoming this is to try and always be mindful that at some point or another, we’ve all been the new kid on the block. We should also be mindful of the adage that tomorrow is not promised. Simply put, you might be with the hottest thing since sliced bread today and later be calling up your old contacts searching for more work tomorrow.
Call it karma or whatever you like, but as I write this, I can think of a laundry list of operators who, at one point or another, were with very prestigious VIPs and while on the assignment, they have given the impression that they thought a little too highly of themselves or thought less of some of their brothers-in-arms, simply because of who they were protecting. Stars don’t burn brightly forever, and when those same individuals found themselves without that client, they also found it much more difficult to interact with people who could have helped them in the Executive Protection community due to the feathers they had ruffled.
Again, interpersonal relationships with fellow agents might not be as pressing as how to shoot from the prone position, but heaven forbid that one day you find yourself talented but unemployed. Who wants to be that agent sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring, and it doesn’t simply because all your peers thought that YOU thought you were too good for them?
by Elijah Shaw
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