By: Jillian Bateman-McIntosh, COO of ESA 

If you’re reading this, I may be preaching to the choir…but humor me. I’m often surprised at the number of conversations I have with electronic security and life safety execs looking for training simply to satisfy a state requirement. That is the entire objective — to check the box. 

Don’t get me wrong, while it’s certainly important to stay in compliance with regulations, I’d argue it’s even more important that you don’t set that as your threshold of excellence. While the consequences of ignoring training may be subtle at first, they will accumulate over time — like a silent business killer — manifesting in a decrease in competitiveness, increased operational expenses, and a less-than-stellar reputation with customers.

LAME EXCUSE 1: My State Doesn’t Require That

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked about the extensive catalog of courses offered by our National Training School and I’m interrupted by, “Yeah, my state doesn’t require that training.” And with that, the conversation ends. Even if not entirely, the person on the other end is clearly completely shut off from considering the investment of educating their employees.   

In the dynamic landscape of today’s electronic security and life safety industry, staying competitive requires a commitment to ongoing improvement and adaptability. Eat or get eaten they say. And the writing is on the wall with industry magazines reporting acquisition after acquisition. 

While some state regulators may not mandate specific training for employees, the decision to invest in training is strategic — one that can significantly impact the success and sustainability of your business. Well-educated employees are more efficient, more apt to develop innovative solutions, more adaptable to change — and better represent a strong brand. In short, an educated employee is more profitable and valuable to the company. Which brings me to lame excuse two. 

LAME EXCUSE 2: What Happens When I Spend Money Investing in Employee Training and They Leave Me for My Competitor

What happens if you don’t train them, and they stay?  

Admittedly, training your staff is a proactive effort that prioritizes getting jobs completed efficiently and profitably. It is a cost to the company, both financially and in resource availability. 

But it’s also quite expensive to ignore the importance of a well-trained staff. Inefficient system installations can lead to malfunctions, requiring costly repairs and truck rolls. What’s more, an untrained technician can often struggle with routine maintenance calls. Time is money and when it takes multiple service calls to address an issue your customer begins to lose confidence in your expertise as a trusted security advisor.  

Investing in career advancement training programs and onboarding training is just that — an investment. The expenses associated with untrained techs in the field will eventually far outweigh these costs. From compromised installations, possible legal consequences, and potential damage to your company’s reputation. 

In today’s competitive labor environment, professional development opportunities are not just beneficial — they are essential. Employees recognize the importance of ongoing learning for their career growth, job satisfaction, and adaptability. Employers who prioritize and invest in professional development create a positive work environment that attracts, retains, and cultivates top talent — ultimately contributing to the long-term success of your organization. In other words, if you don’t invest in their professional development — and they are good — they’re leaving you anyway. 

LAME EXCUSE 3: We Get Everything We Need Free from Our Manufacturer Training

Technicians trained to be brand-agnostic are more flexible and adaptable to various products and technologies. This versatility allows them to work with a wide range of equipment and solutions, which is particularly valuable in the dynamic and rapidly evolving tech industry. 

Existing environments can commonly include products from different vendors. Technicians with brand-agnostic foundations can handle installation and servicing systems without being limited to specific brand knowledge and can often problem-solve much more efficiently. 

They have a baseline — a common level of expertise — that can be easily adapted. With products from different vendors offering similar functionalities at different price points, this knowledge can give decision-makers more flexibility in the solutions being offered, without being limited by brand affiliations 

Training from a neutral source, not specific to any brand, allows your techs to navigate different scenarios and ensures your company can adapt to changing market dynamics. Ten years ago, we wouldn’t have ever imagined this industry without Interlogix in it. Companies change. They either evolve and grow or they die. We are all susceptible to it.  

When your employees’ skills remain stagnant due to lack of training, your business itself becomes stagnant. And in the tech industry — one characterized by rapid advancements and evolving best practices — failure to evolve along with the industry will leave you behind. How can a stagnant company offer state-of-the-art solutions to its clients? 

Happily engaged employees make for happily satisfied customers. Your customers rely on electronic security systems to protect their families, their businesses, their assets — and having a well-trained and educated staff behind these products instills confidence in the effectiveness of these vital systems. 

The journey from excuses to action is not easy, but it is empowering. I hope you’ll join me in banning these three lame excuses in 2024.