Security – Women in Business – Resources and Community for Women in Business

Are you a Leader in Your Organization?

Cynthia Bazin — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:21:26 +0000

Are you the owner of a business, or manage a large department at work? Or, are you looking to move up within your organization; to be a decision maker and oversee a large staff of employees? Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with true leaders, who have assisted me in developing my career. With these leaders as my mentors, I have learned a lot about how certain leadership styles can make or break how employees view management, and how it can directly impact the success of an organization.

Below are some of the essential qualities of a true leader. Who do you know that displays these qualities? Are you one of them?

· Delegate To Others: Do you appropriately delegate tasks to your talent within the organization or do you feel that tasks can’t be done as good as you can do them, so you tend to work “harder”, not “smarter”? Leaders put people in positions that have extraordinary talent, then empower them to do their jobs. Leaders must appropriately follow-up to ensure that tasks are being completed, and be available for support and guidance, but they allow people to do what they were hired to do for the organization.

· Praise The Team: Are you praising your employees both in private and publicly when something positive happens within the organization? A true leader will praise the work of the team, versus patting himself or herself on the back for the success. Leaders realize that without their employees working as hard as they do, he or she couldn’t be in the position they are in.

· Mentor/Coach: Are you developing your employees for the next level; where they wish to go in their careers? Are you available for employees to come into your office to ask questions, ask for assistance and support when needed? Do you have regular meetings with your employees to keep the communication lines open? Leaders are not intimidated by talent within their organization. True leaders are consistently coaching, mentoring and preparing their employees to move to the next level.

· Open To New Ideas: Are you open to new ideas, willing to try different things within the organization? Or do you tend to go the safe route and not think “outside of the box” and not take risks? Leaders are always looking to improve how things are done and “think outside of the box”; are open to fresh, new ideas. They prepare as much as possible for risk and potential for failure, but aren’t afraid to move forward in the anticipation of growing the team and organization in a positive direction.

· Accept Responsibility for Mistakes: When something goes wrong within your department of the organization, do you take responsibility for things that could have been done better by you or the team; or do you always put blame on others? If an employee of yours makes an error in judgment, do you take responsibility for the employee, correct the mistake and move on? True leaders take responsibility for themselves and their team. When something negative occurs, they quickly acknowledge responsibility for what he/she is responsible for, takes the appropriate action to correct the error, then immediately puts measures in place to prevent the mistake from happening in the future.

· Walk the Talk: If you tell your employees that guest services is the number one priority in the organization, are you the leader of this directive, by smiling and talking with guests, providing excellent guest relations? When the expectations of the company are that employees must have the highest level of ethics and professionalism, are you the example of these expectations? True leaders “walk the talk” and are the example for their employees to emulate.

‘Love your life and live it to the fullest. Just do it with your EYES WIDE OPEN. Know that I am keeping my eye out for you. ~Cynthia

Cynthia Bazin is a licensed Private Investigator and Security Consultant for the State of Nevada. Please contact her today for your next speaking engagement or any training needs on Safety & Security. She will ensure you have all the tools you need to keep you safe in 2008!

Ethical Behavior- It’s Everyone’s Responsibility

Cynthia Bazin — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:27:10 +0000

In each of our lives, we are going to be tested at one point or another on our ethics and moral behavior. Can you remember a time in your life when you were asked to do something, by an employer, or friend, which was outside of the lines of ethical behavior? Or have you ever felt the pressure to perform at work, or to get ahead in an organization? What decision did you make? Did you do the right thing by sticking by the rules, or did you go against ethical guidelines?

With the recent Barry Bonds controversy over his home run record in baseball; whether there should be a blemish on Barry’s record due to his alleged steroid use, it made me think about where the responsibility lies with ethical behavior.

In my opinion, the following is what we need to look at when we consider who is responsible for ethical behavior. (This can be applied to the Barry Bond’s controversy) or any situation in general where ethics are critical.

The Individual Themselves: Ultimately, we are responsible for our own behavior and decisions. We need to decide (preferably early in life), what type of person we are going to be. Are we going to do the right things in life, regardless of outside pressures, or are we going to allow people to persuade us, perhaps pressure us into making decisions that we are not comfortable with. Upon me interviewing people that I have investigated that were ultimately discharged from employment and/or convicted of a crime, many expressed that their unethical behavior started small, then as time progressed, unethical decisions became somewhat normal, and small violations led to bigger violations.

Supervisors/Management: Are you a manager or supervisor for an organization? What are your ethics? Do you follow the rules and regulations or do you go against the rules? Have you ever noticed that an employee’s behavior has changed in the workplace or is not following the rules of the organization, or the law? Did you immediately investigate or did you let things go, because “it’s not that serious”, or “he or she is a good employee” and you didn’t want to make a big deal of it? Although the individual is ultimately responsible for their behavior, as managers and supervisors you have a responsibility to look within yourselves, to not only determine if you are doing the right thing with your own life, but how you are as managers, are you enforcing and encouraging good behavior?

The Organization: I am certain that everyone has heard the phrase “Everything starts from the top down”. What is the overall pulse of the organization that you work for? What are the ethics of the CEO, CFO, COO and other top ranking officials of the organization? Do they represent good, ethical, legal behavior? What types of policies and procedures are written for the organization and do they follow-through with holding up these policies and procedures? If people violate these ethical violations, is swift, strict discipline and/or penalties taken or is it brushed off? The organization as a whole, must set the pulse of what is expected by the people who run it and work within it. If the top ranking officials aren’t following the guidelines, how can you expect and/or demand that the people that work for you be ethical?

How is it best for us as a society to get people to want to do the right thing? We must set a good example at home. We must start with the kids; we must set a good example with our younger generation to do the right thing, because it feels right to ourselves, and that you should never feel pressured to do something that is against the rules. We must teach people that doing the right thing gets you rewarded and moves you forward in life. We also must put good, ethical people in high ranking positions. These people must hire people that think similarly to what they do and enforce policies and procedures to ensure that people are doing the right thing.

Remember, that regardless of your behavior today, or how you have done things in the past, tomorrow is a new day; a new beginning which we can all make a conscious decision to make the right decisions in life, which we can pass on to future generations.

Is there anything you need to do, individually, as a manager or head of an organization in regards to ethical behavior?

‘Love your life and live it to the fullest. Just do it with your EYES WIDE OPEN. Know that I am keeping my eye out for you. ~Cynthia

Resolutions for Keeping Safe in 2008

Cynthia Bazin — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:00:04 +0000

It’s a brand-new year; a year for all of us to accomplish great things in our careers and our personal lives. Go for your dreams everyone! Love your life, just do it with your eyes wide open! As part of our goals for 2008, let’s make sure we are keeping safe!

· Safeguard Personal Information: Do everything you can to protect your personal information. Safeguard your belongings at work. Never provide your credit card information to someone on the phone that you don’t know and do not provide this information on a web site that is not secure.

· Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Be aware of your surroundings as you are walking, especially to and from your vehicle. Never talk on your cell phone as you are walking to your vehicle. Wait until you get into your car or inside a property. Have your keys in hand as you are walking to your vehicle. Never walk or run outside with an IPod on; you cannot hear if someone is coming up behind you.

· Keep People Informed of your Whereabouts: Always let someone know of your whereabouts. For example, if you are going out hiking for the day, let someone know where you will be and what time you expect to be home. Arrange for a phone call upon your return. If you are going out of town for the weekend, let someone know where you will be and who you will be with. If you are going out on a date with a new person, let somebody know of their name and where you are going in the event of an emergency. It is better to be safe than sorry.

· Be Proactive & Investigate: In everything that you do, do not accept anything at face value. Always look into people and businesses prior to doing any sort of business or commitments with them.

· Open Communication with Children: Be involved with your children. Know what they are doing and who they are doing it with. Set guidelines for them on using the computer and follow-up on what they are doing. Develop a relationship with them so they can come to you for anything. It is better to have a relationship which they will tell you when they are in trouble and you know about it, versus your children not feeling safe coming to you and getting in potentially dangerous situations.

· Respect Yourself and Your Personal Boundaries: Respect who you are as a person and know that you deserve success and happiness; the happiness you wish to have. Never accept verbal or physical abuse. Understand that everyone deserves respect. Establish boundaries and stick to them. Surround yourself with positive people.

· Trust Your Gut Instincts: Always trust your gut in situations. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Upon getting this feeling about someone or a situation, investigate further.

‘Love your life and live it to the fullest. Just do it with your EYES WIDE OPEN. Know that I am keeping my eye out for you. ~Cynthia

Keep Safe at The Office

Cynthia Bazin — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:27:34 +0000

Due to some recent thefts and break-ins in the community at office buildings, I thought this would be a good opportunity to provide you some tips on security measures for the workplace. Although you cannot totally prevent a crime from occurring, taking these proactive measures will reduce the chances of you and your organization becoming victimized.

· Secure Your Wallets and Purses In A Locked Drawer: Many of you have done it. You leave your purses or wallets on top of your desk or inside an unlocked drawer or cabinet. There have been several cases recently of criminals walking straight into an office space, walking right past the receptionist and into offices and stealing purses and wallets. Be Safe! Lock them up!

· Check-in Every Visitor: Make sure you know who is in your building. Make them sign-in and confirm where they are going and verify that they have a scheduled appointment.

· Lock the Front Door “After Hours”: If you or your Team Members are working late, make sure they lock the front door to the office. Also, make sure that their vehicle is close to the office building and parked in a well-lit area.

· Secure File Information: Secure confidential file information before you leave each evening. This includes locking down your computer. Don’t take the risk of someone breaking in to your office and stealing personal/confidential information.

· Cameras / Panic Buttons: Consider having cameras installed and panic buttons in place. Cameras are especially critical in highly sensitive areas as well as entry-ways and exit-ways.

· Have Keys In Hand: Before leaving your office for the evening, make sure you have your keys in hand as you are walking to your vehicle. Once getting into your vehicle, immediately lock your doors.

· Note Any Unusual Activity: If you notice any unusual activity or suspicious people as you are walking to your vehicle, be safe and return to the office. Contact your Security people or at least get another person to walk you to your vehicle. If there is possible criminal activity occurring, contact your local authorities.

With everything you do, it’s better to be safe than sorry and take a moment to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep you and your fellow co-workers safe. Why not take a moment and pass this information along to your friends and co-workers. Together, we can help keep each other safe.

‘Love your life and live it to the fullest. Just do it with your EYES WIDE OPEN. Know that I am keeping my eye out for you. ~Cynthia

Cynthia Bazin is a licensed Private Investigator and Security Consultant for the State of Nevada. Please contact her today for all your Investigative & Security Needs. She will ensure that you are taking proactive measures to reduce risk and liability in your organization, and will be your contact to investigate any matters of concern at your workplace.

Holiday Scams- Protect Yourself & Your Family

Cynthia Bazin — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:57:15 +0000

The holidays can be a wonderful time of year; visiting family, enjoying great food, giving and receiving presents. However, this time of year can also be a very stressful time for people. And when you are under stress, you are not always thinking clearly and you can become vulnerable. Vulnerable to thieves who are looking to take advantage of you.

As you are working hard to get everything done for the holiday, crooks, thieves, scam artists are working even harder to come up with ideas to pull at your heartstrings and come up with ideas to get your money and personal information.

The following are some common scams / crimes that occur throughout the year, but increase during the holidays:

· Distract and Grab: When in shopping malls, restaurants or other venues, watch your bags. Thieves will steal your items with a technique commonly called the “Distract and Grab”. These thieves work in teams. How it works is that one of the criminals will distract your attention by causing a commotion or dropping items such as money in one area and as your attention is brought to that area, the other criminal in the team will steal items that are nearby to you.

· The Internet: Be aware of where you are shopping online for the holidays. Be sure that you are shopping from a well-known company and that the website you are purchasing items from is the “real” website for the company. You will be amazed at how criminals will develop fake websites that will look practically identical to the real website. Take a few moments to research the website so that you don’t end up giving your credit card information and other personal information to a criminal.

· Offers Too Good to Be True: Be weary of credit card offers that you will be offered during the holidays. When presented with an offer of deferring payments until after the 1st of the year or a longer period of time, it might sound like a great deal due to your need to buy gifts using a credit card. However, please remember that you will either need to pay now, or will pay for it later. Be aware that certain credit card companies may offer you to defer payments, but most will accrue interest during the time you are not paying, therefore you probably will not be saving anything and actually might be paying more in the long-run.

· Telemarketing Scams: Be cautious of people calling you on the phone and asking for money for a charity and requesting your credit card information. Ask a lot of questions. I recommend that you get a phone number to call them back and determine that the charity is legitimate. I also recommend that you request information in writing and have them send it to you.

Although there is a lot to think about, in regards to the types of scams / crimes that can happen to you, there are some basic things you can do to reduce your chances in becoming a victim. First, never take things at face value. Take some time to do your homework to make sure you are being given accurate information. Second, Put together a spending plan for the holidays. Don’t go overboard and don’t buy on emotion. Third, Do things on your time table. Slow down. When you are doing things at your comfortable pace, you are less likely to become a victim of a thief.

Friends: Remember what the holidays are all about. It’s not about spending lots of money or having a house that is decorated perfectly. Understand that the true holiday spirit is about spending time with the people you love.

Love your life and live it to the fullest. Just do it with your EYES WIDE OPEN. Know that I am keeping my eye out for you. ~Cynthia

Keep Your Teenagers Safe Online

Cynthia Bazin — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:38:35 +0000

The internet can be a convenient and fun way for people to keep in touch with family and friends. With email, instant messenger and sites like My Space, you have the ability to keep in touch with friends and meet new people very quickly. When chatting on the computer, many people find it to be much easier to let their guard down on what they say and share with people, versus if they were talking face to face with someone. We must be aware that as your kids are online chatting, there are predators surfing the internet trying to lure them into conversation, and some may even try to meet up with them.

Below are some things that you should discuss with your kids about internet safety.

Please send this to everyone you know, so we can all do our part in keeping kids safe.

People that you meet on the internet are strangers. Just as you wouldn’t give your home address, phone number, location of school, or any other information to a stranger; you shouldn’t post your personal information on the internet.
Protect your privacy and your friends privacy. Get their “ok” before posting something about them, or their photo.
Remember that there is really nothing private about the internet. You may think it is….. but it is not. If people want to find the information, they will. Think before you start writing.
Would you feel comfortable attaching your “My Space” account or chat logs onto your college or job application? If the answer is no, don’t post it!
Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. For example, a teenage girl who thinks she is chatting with a 13 year old boy, might actually be talking with a much older man.
Don’t write to people that make you feel uncomfortable or scared. If you have gotten into an online chatting relationship that has gone too far, talk to your parents about it. Let them help you fix the situation.
Don’t put your schedule online. This information can get into the wrong hands and that person may want to do harm to you.
Don’t allow the internet to be your main source of activity. Get out with your friends. Get yourself involved in sports or other after school activities.
Parents: Have a good open relationship with your kids. Get involved with what they are doing. Let them feel comfortable that they can come to you with any problems that they might be experiencing, so you can help them get out of a potentially dangerous situation.

‘Love your life and live it to the fullest. Just do it with your EYES WIDE OPEN. Know that I am keeping my eye out for you. ~Cynthia

Deck the Halls with Story Ideas at Christmas

Joan Stewart — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:28:56 +0000

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s can be painfully slow at newspapers, magazines, and TV and radio stations because newsmakers are doing things other than making news.

Talk show guests are in short supply. Reporters often find it difficult to track down the people they need to comment on a particular story. And because newspapers sell more ads in December, that means more news pages to fill.

Here are ways your publicity effort can capitalize on the holidays:

Tie your story idea to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Yom Kippur or New Year’s. See Special Report #14: How to Piggyback Your Story Ideas onto Holidays and Anniversaries.
Write letters to the editor and opinion columns for publication during the weeks immediately before and after Christmas, when submissions usually drop off.
Call your local newspapers now to see what special sections they have planned during December. Your story idea might be a perfect fit. Pitch your idea immediately because these sections are sometimes done weeks in advance.
Stay alert for breaking news stories on which you can provide expert opinion, even if the topic doesn’t have anything to do with the holidays. If a story breaks, call newspapers and TV stations and offer to comment.
Write or call magazine editors, who usually work six months ahead, with story ideas for late spring and early summer.

Mark your calendar now to set aside some time before and after Christmas to pitch.

Publicity expert Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, publishes “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” a free ezine that shows you how to generate thousands of dollars in free online and offline publicity. Subscribe at http://www.PublicityHound.com and receive free the handy checklist “89 Reasons to Send a Press Release.” She blogs at http://www.PublicityHound.net. Contact her at 262-284-7451 or at [email protected]

Trust Your Gut Instincts

Cynthia Bazin — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 03:41:13 +0000

Then Investigate !

Have you ever had a situation, which you have met someone new, and your first instinct is that there is something about him or her that doesn’t feel right; that something might be wrong with them or with the situation at hand? What did you do? Did you investigate or ignore those feelings? Did you persuade yourself to believe “that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover”? Have you or do you know of people that have been hurt, and then it is later said, “I knew something wasn’t right”?

As an Investigator, a lot of what I do is based on skills that I have acquired over the last 13 years doing this line of work as well as using my psychology background to profile the people I am working with. However, a big part of why I believe I am successful solving investigations is that I trust what my gut is saying to me. I don’t hold what my gut is telling me as the absolute truth, but it is absolutely a sign to me, that I must listen to the message and investigate further.

Imagine how much heartache and problems could be avoided if everyone took a minute to listen to the messages that are being told to them!

The following are some things that you should look further into, in order to protect yourselves from potential problems:

People who are more interested in themselves versus the people around them: People who like to consistently hear themselves talk are many times not looking out for peoples’ best interests. Remember the catch phrase, “it is better to give than to receive”. If you know someone who always is looking for what is in it for him or her, beware… and make sure you know what you are getting into.
Those who can’t produce professional references in a business situation. Have you ever known someone that expresses that they have a ton of experience in their respective field, but you have never heard of him or her and they do not volunteer any way of verifying who they are? Any business person that is reputable, should gladly refer you to at least 2 or 3 professional references and be happy to share their background with you (which can be verified).
No Written Contracts: If you are going to be in a business deal with another party, it is imperative to put everything in writing. For those people that want to do a “handshake” or “verbal” agreement, BEWARE…. Protect yourself from getting burned. Have everything in writing and ensure that legally you are covered.
Requests for Money Up-Front: I have seen so many cases in which people were scammed because they went into a deal which money was required up-front and there was no due diligence done on the party requesting the money. If you are entering an agreement with someone that asks for money prior to any work being done, ensure that you do your due diligence. Look into the person. Be proactive and make sure that they are a legitimate and ethical person.
People who have moved around a lot.: This is something that you should at least investigate. People who tend to have had issues business-wise or have had criminal convictions will often move around, change their business name and perhaps use another personal name in attempts to “start over”. Although moving around is not an absolute sign of a bad or unethical person, this can be a red flag which should be investigated.
Difficult personality: Be aware of those people who have difficult personalities and are unable to see a situation from a different side other than their own. People who show a lack of interpersonal skills send me a red flag, that there may be other issues lurking underneath.
People who pressure you to make a decision: Whether this is in your personal life or professional life, be aware of those who attempt to pressure you in making a decision. Ensure that you decide things on your terms, with the right due diligence and you are completely comfortable with your decision.

‘Love your life and live it to the fullest. Just do it with your EYES WIDE OPEN. Know that I am keeping my eye out for you.Coming soon! Watch for new articles from this expert.

Get More Tips, Strategies And Articles About Security for Women HERE

Save YOUR Life! Personal Safety & Security Tips

Cynthia Bazin — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 03:42:06 +0000

Every day, we make decisions about how we are going to live; where we will go and who we will spend it with. Along with that, we make personal choices regarding our own safety. Sometimes we are so rushed in our daily lives that we become lax or we just don’t think about things we could be doing better to protect ourselves from harm. Although we will never be able to totally prevent crimes from happening against us, there are some very simple things we can do to reduce the chances of getting victimized.

Please send this along to everyone you know. Let’s do everything we can to keep each other safe!

Be alert to your surroundings.
Vary your routine; drive or walk different routes. Some criminals look for patterns of behavior.
When walking, are you using your cell phone? Cell phones are a distraction and will make you less aware of your surroundings. Keep aware when walking; look over your shoulder to see if someone is following you.
When walking to your vehicle, do you have your car keys in your hand? Do not wait to get to your vehicle to start searching in your bag for your keys.
Upon approaching your vehicle, prior to getting in, look inside the vehicle for any potential intruders.
Park your vehicle in lighted areas and near cameras if possible. If you feel uncomfortable walking out to your vehicle, ask someone to escort you. Listen to your gut. It is better to be safe, than to be in an uncomfortable situation that may be unsafe.
Spread possessions about. For example; keep your keys separate from your credit cards. Keep some cash separate from your credit cards. In the event you are robbed or you lose your wallet or purse, all of your important possessions are not in one place.
If someone demands your wallet or purse, obviously they want money, therefore, throw it in one direction and you should run in the opposite direction. Do not resist. No amount of money is worth taking chances with your life.
Ladies… When inside bathroom stalls, do not hang your purse or bags behind the stall door. A thief will reach over the stall door and will steal your purse!
When meeting someone, for the first several times, meet in a public place; do not let he or she know where you live or provide very private information about yourself.
If you are going out of town or are not going to be at work, let someone know where you will be, and who you’ll be with.
Your cell phone is one of the most important things you can have on you, if you need assistance or are having an emergency. There is nothing worse than a cell phone with no charge! Spend the money and get several chargers; one for your home, one for work, and a charger for your vehicle. Also, program an emergency contact in your phone so that he or she can be notified in the event of an emergency. Many people are using the acronym “ICE” “In Case of Emergency” in their phone.

Love your life and live it to the fullest. Just do it with your EYES WIDE OPEN. Know that I am “keeping my eye out for you!”

Coming soon! Watch for new articles from this expert.

Get More Tips, Strategies And Articles About Security for Women HERE