NextGen Community

The impact of implicit bias on physical security can have tremendous consequences. When a security professional must determine who is a threat or who belongs, their decisions and actions might be rooted in unwanted bias. Bias influences our perceptions about others, without our knowledge and consent—and is often misaligned with our personal beliefs and values about equality. It is critical for anyone interfacing with employees, customers, or the public—or anyone with oversight over physical security or a guard force, to be aware of how implicit bias affects our attitudes about others. Sadly, situations in which security professionals made biased judgments have resulted in tragic outcomes from job loss, reputational damage, lawsuits, and loss of life and human dignity. It’s more important than ever for security leaders to be thinking about the role of implicit bias in our industry.