BY MELISSA SOMERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
BEING PROACTIVE ABOUT crime prevention is much more than setting up a security system and slapping GPS on your equipment. Sure, there are a vast array of additional prevention tools that you can utilize but one very simple and inexpensive tactic regularly goes ignored: People! The value that can be found in creating and continually expanding a network of meaningful contacts, while a bit tougher to quantify, is immeasureable — and it’s incredibly affordable.
“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN COMMUNICATION IS HEARING WHAT ISN’T SAID.”
— PETER DRUCKER
We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who,” yet we tend to settle into our comfort zone of connections. Developing an extensive network of contacts, both in your field and in adjacent ones, will maximize your ability to protect yourself simply by having a diverse network to call upon in times of need. Giving ourselves the opportunity to having in-person conversations is one of the best ways to brainstorm solutions. When you make time to attend gatherings and meet new people, you not only gain access to those people, but to their contacts, ideas and tested solutions. And branching out from your usual events will multiply those benefits immensely!
It might sound a bit hokey, but challenging yourself to meeting and truly engaging with at least a few new people at each event you attend can be of huge value. Additionally, if you are finding that you know everyone at the events you’re attending, it is a very clear cut way of telling you it’s time to broaden your networking horizons. It’s also worth it to consider becoming more deeply involved in groups you’re currently engaged with. Joining committees or even the Board of Directors is a great way to heighten your understanding of any organization and what it has to offer while allowing you to connect with others on a deeper level, encouraging productive conversations, and presenting opportunities for discovering more unique solutions.
Imagine being in the market for a new security system or GPS gear. If you choose to either do your own research or only talk to your everyday crowd, there’s a good chance that you’ll be greatly limiting your options. Sure, an old fashioned Google search will provide a plethora of possibilities, but it won’t necessarily give you honest feedback nor will it readily answer your specific questions about the pros and cons of any given resolution. I’m always amazed at how much more productive an in-person brainstorming session is than me spinning my wheels looking for an answer on my own. The simple act of having a conversation with someone and the back and forth of that productive communication is something we easily loose sight of if we remain in our comfort zone.
It’s human nature to “stay in your lane” when it comes to whom we communicate with on a regular basis or even how we resolve issues. While that’s not always a bad thing, we have to be cautious of being focused on ONLY our lane that we run the risk of missing out on alternate routes and the scenery along the way. Knowing your lane and those in it is, obviously, very important. But when we are stuck in our lane we become entrenched in it, we end up with blinders on, leaving opportunities for growth and the solutions offered by it to go unnoticed. It’s astonishing how often the simple act of chatting with someone about one issue can lead to solutions for all kinds of issues that you might have never considered or even known to look into.
Finding ways to expand your circle of contacts serves as an effective and inexpensive way to bolster your prevention ideas through something as simple as a conversation. Knowing whom to call in any given set of circumstances can go a long way in helping you address crime — even before it happens. CPP members are encouraged to reach out and request a site security walk and trainings on a regular basis to make sure they’re not stuck in a pattern of complacency that increases their risk of becoming a victim. Making a phone call or setting up a meeting might feel like a drain on your already packed schedule, but when you consider the impact of written correspondence being misinterpreted, the investment of your time becomes a no-brainer. Meeting face to face with someone allows for observations, and, therefore, understanding the entirety of what someone is saying, that no amount of back and forth emails is likely to accomplish. The power that lies with the people you surround yourself with can exponentially expand your ability to discover protocols that might have never crossed your radar. And the effort you make in developing these relationships is a worthy endeavor that promises to give lasting results.
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