Why Capable Leaders Should Adopt a New Standard for Personal Protection

Many of you have felt it: that unsettling sense of vulnerability that creeps in as you walk to your car in an urban parking garage, sit in traffic, or see yet another headline about targeted attacks on professionals or senseless urban violence. You have witnessed two assassination attempts on a presidential candidate, a woman set on fire on the subway, a car careening through a celebration, a murdered CEO, and Teslas shot up or ablaze. It’s a genuine concern.

As an executive or urban worker, you’ve built your career on confidence, decisive leadership, and the ability to handle high-stakes challenges. Yet you might feel less sure when it comes to personal safety—protecting yourself and your family. You’re not alone. Many professionals, despite their workplace competence, hesitate when it comes to addressing personal security. They know the risks are real but aren’t sure where to start or how to incorporate effective measures into their already demanding lives. Nearly all of them will say they want to develop their personal safety and even self-defense capabilities, but they often treat it like that fitness program they keep putting off, telling themselves they will just do it later. Sometimes, they have been misguided into thinking it is an all-or-nothing affair; you either have to train and live like a commando or do nothing at all and outsource your safety to hope and 911. Either example leaves them vulnerable. You don’t always get to pick the time, especially today.

This hesitation is amplified by the realities of today’s Hybrid Threat Environment, a dangerous convergence of cultural, social, and institutional forces creating chaos in the system. These intersecting and sometimes overlapping challenges create an unpredictable landscape where high-profile individuals and professionals working in urban environments face increased risk. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s the nature of violence that has changed. It has become either completely random and unexpected or directed at targets based on fringe ideology that somehow has become nearly mainstream. Something as simple as your brand can make you a target.

The tragic death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was targeted and killed in a downtown area, highlights just how vulnerable even the most accomplished individuals can be. Similarly, the recent, random stabbing in downtown Denver of Celinda Levno, a 71-year-old flight attendant on a layover, reminds us that attacks can happen to anyone—whether they are traveling for work or simply going about their daily routines.

These events, though alarming, are not isolated. They reflect a growing trend in which executives, urban workers, and other professionals are increasingly exposed to random and targeted acts of violence. For these individuals, the risks are compounded by visibility, predictable routines, and the changing dynamics of urban safety. Unfortunately, relying on traditional security measures or local law enforcement alone is no longer sufficient. In many cases, the burden of protection falls on the individual, and preparation becomes essential. The question is no longer if something could happen but whether you’re ready when it does. While you can’t make yourself 100% safe, a minimal, 1% effort can make you 100% more prepared. With the right mindset, awareness, and practical strategies, you can protect yourself, your family, and your business in a responsible and effective way.

Why Traditional Security Measures Are Insufficient

For some executives, the first instinct is to rely on bodyguards or protective teams. While these measures have value, they are not without significant limitations. First and foremost is the cost. Having even a single professional protective agent available nearly around the clock costs a minimum of $250,000 annually, while a small, competent team can easily exceed $1 million. For high-visibility executives who travel extensively or have complex schedules, those costs rise even higher. Nothing is better than having a solid team of capable protectors guarding you. Still, the cost puts professional security out of reach for many, even high-wealth individuals, leaving them to either forgo protection entirely or rely on low-cost, poorly trained options that offer little value.

Beyond cost, bodyguards can create other complications. Their visibility can disrupt the normal flow of life, and there is always the problem of sacrificing privacy. No matter the situation with a team, there will still be times when a client is vulnerable. Relying entirely on external protection, without developing personal skills, leaves security gaps that attackers can exploit.

The reality is that personal security cannot be fully outsourced. Executives and urban workers must take an active role in their safety by adopting the tactics and mindset of professionals who thrive in high-risk environments.

Adapting Lessons from Special Operations and Other Disciplines

To navigate today’s Hybrid Threat Environment, executives and professionals can draw from the proven tactics and strategies of elite disciplines. From Special Operations and counterterrorism experts to urban law enforcement officers and protective agents, these fields offer valuable insights into personal safety and threat response that, with little effort, can give everyday people increasing confidence and capability to handle a crisis and act as their own true first responders.

A foundational concept is the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act), a decision-making framework developed by fighter pilots for high-pressure dogfights. The OODA Loop teaches individuals to observe their environment, orient themselves to emerging threats, decide on a course of action, and act decisively—all in rapid succession. This framework is not limited to combat; it serves as a critical tool for executives navigating potentially dangerous urban settings, as well as for those entrenched in a competitive marketplace. Whether recognizing suspicious behavior in a parking garage or responding to an unfolding crisis, the OODA Loop equips individuals to remain calm and control high-stress situations. Coursework can provide executives and others the ability to observe more strategically, to orient quickly to the situation at hand, make the right decision at the right time, and act with bold determination, allowing them to prevail in dangerous encounters.

Equally valuable is the situational awareness developed by seasoned urban law enforcement officers. Good beat cops in high-crime areas learn to spot subtle cues—nervous movements, inconsistent behavior, or individuals scanning a crowd in an unusual way—that indicate potential threats. They develop an intuitive sense of something being "not quite right," built from thousands of interactions with criminals and victims. For executives, this survival sense can be learned with focused effort and without exposure to threats and crime, giving them a layer of autopilot awareness to pick up on danger at the earliest moment.

Another critical concept comes from counter-terrorism and understanding the attack cycle. Most targeted attacks follow a predictable pattern that includes surveillance, planning, and rehearsal. Learning to identify these early stages can help disrupt threats before they escalate. For example, noticing the same person appearing repeatedly in different locations or recognizing unusual behavior near an office or event venue can be an early warning sign of a developing plan. Counter-terrorism experts are trained to detect these patterns, and executives can adopt similar strategies to protect themselves and their teams. It doesn’t need to be a full-time job; they just need to learn to avoid missing the obvious.

For those concerned about being followed or targeted, tradecraft from the special operations and intelligence communities offers practical solutions. Simple techniques like varying routes, using behavioral tests to identify potential tails, recognizing signs of surveillance, and provocative maneuvers can help individuals avoid attack and if necessary evade detection safely.

Finally, physical self-defense, armed or unarmed, while often a last resort, remains an essential skill. Lessons from bodyguards and bouncers focus on efficiency: using straightforward, high-impact techniques to de-escalate or neutralize threats quickly. Whether learning to escape a physical hold or using everyday objects like a pen or briefcase as improvised defensive tools, these skills provide an extra layer of protection when avoidance and deterrence fail.

Building a Comprehensive Personal Security Plan From The Individual Up

The most effective approach to personal security is a layered one, beginning with soft skills and progressing to hard skills based on the individual’s needs, resources, and capabilities. Street S.M.A.A.R.T.S. is the acronym we use: Systematic Mindset, Awareness, Avoidance, Readiness, Tactics, and Skill. These form the foundation of both our personal and organizational training platforms.

Through my role as Chief Training Officer at Grey Group LLC and as the lead coach for the OSS: Operative Self-Security program, I’ve developed a scalable, executive-level private coaching model that helps professionals gain real-world readiness without dramatic lifestyle changes. The OSS coaching format is personal, discreet, and designed to build practical confidence through focused, one-on-one coaching and convenient online training resources.

For organizations looking to protect their people at scale, we offer our Street S.M.A.A.R.T.S. Seminar—a powerful introduction to personal security that can be delivered in person or virtually. We have provided this training to Fortune 100 executives, field teams, high-risk industry reps, and urban employee groups. From there, clients can pursue hands-on workshops, tailored group courses, or private intensives that align with their specific environment, threat profile, and desired outcomes.

The Importance of Including Your Family

Security doesn’t end with the individual; executives must include their families in their plans to protect what matters most. Children, in particular, can benefit from age-appropriate training, such as memorizing their address, identifying safe havens, and using code words during emergencies. Teaching practical responses to events like school lockdowns or separations in crowded areas ensures that every family member is prepared to act. Family-focused safety is part of each program.

Final Thoughts: A Worthy Investment in Safety

In today’s Hybrid Threat Environment, personal security is not optional. It’s a responsibility. By investing just 1% of your time and resources into safety training, you can achieve a dramatic increase in confidence and preparedness. You already lead with decisiveness and vision in the workplace—now it’s time to bring that same level of commitment to your personal and family safety.

With proven strategies from elite disciplines, you can navigate the unpredictable challenges of today’s urban landscape with confidence. Don’t wait for a crisis to act. Start now and, as an individual, take control of your safety, your family’s well-being, and your peace of mind. As a business or group, let your people know you value their worth and protect your greatest asset

• Find out more about elite personal safety coaching: here

• Schedule a Street S.M.A.A.R.T.S. Seminar: here
  
  

Be responsible, capable, and confident in a crisis.


Trevor Thrasher