What a week! Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, Etihad Arena for UFC Fight Night.
My role for the week, executive protection. I spent my time ensuring the safety of a fighter, his family and team.
As a former combat sport athlete, I could relate, all be it and at a much lower level, to the pressure the fighter was under in the final week of preparation. At his level, with not only the personal responsibilities of family and team, but also his contractual professional responsibilities, his mind must have been full. Focusing on this, his fight playbook, his final training sessions and weight cut demands a delicate balance of mind, body and spirit.
My daily role was simple, to ensure the safe arrival of my charge to each contractual appearance and to all times he was in public space. My end goal, to ensure his safe arrival to the Octagon on fight night.
So many valuable lessons this week. My initial AAR, is not exhaustive. Time and reflection will, I am sure, give forth more. I did not hit the target on all of these.
Presence. Through the skills of empathy and rapport, establish quick connections and make clear my purpose.
Clarity. Language barriers aside, establish clear communication lines that function during norms and emergencies should they arise.
Credibility. Though assumed I took opportunities to demonstrate confidence and capability through simple actions.
Shadow. Being there whilst being out of the way. I aimed to be a visible deterrent to threats, yet not in the way of my charge’s activities.
Questions. Asked or answered quickly and clearly to clarify needs and maintain control. Ambiguity creates doubt, a strong yes and a complete no were critical as was the confidence to say I don’t know and then find a resolution.
Approachability. My charge was clear that his family was a critical piece of his emotional and psychological preparation. Therefore, their comfort was non negotiable.
Energy. With a fight imminent for my charge, my level of energy needed to be appropriate. The established rapport allowed empathy to be applied, going with the flow the fighter and his team displayed. A demonstration that emotional intelligence is far from ‘soft’ as a skill set.
#softskillsarehard
#walkingthetalk
#standstraightnotstraightened
#bewhereyourfeetare
#violenceofaction
#choosesafety
Where does Emirates get all the money to sponsor almost every single Big sporting event? No other airline around the world (excluding two other Middle-Eastern) are able to do it.